Chassis Number: AD3668
Garnering its first Le Mans victory in 1924, in just its fifth year of existence, the Bentley marque cemented its reputation for speed and endurance with a string of successive wins at the French classic from 1927 through 1930. Introduced in chassis form at the Olympia Motor Show in October 1927, the 4½ Litre combined successful elements of its predecessors, the 3 Litre and the 6½ Litre models, and quickly established itself as a worthy competitor on the track. Bentley’s epic victory over Stutz at the 1928 24 Hours of Le Mans immortalized the new 4½ Litre, and the model has remained an undisputed icon of British motoring ever since.
The 4½ Litre offered here, chassis AD3668, is a relatively late-production example, built in March 1930 on the standard 10-foot, 10-inch-wheelbase chassis, incorporating desirable features such as the heavy-crank-specification engine, Bentley & Draper friction shock absorbers, and C-type gearbox. As documented in factory records, this chassis was delivered to Vanden Plas in Kingsbury, where it was fitted with their classic 4-seater Sports bodywork, with full-length wings, rear-mounted spare, three-piece fixed windscreen, and weather equipment.
According to the coachbuilder’s records, this particular Sports Tourer body, bearing number 1646, was built to order for the original selling agent, Rootes Ltd. of Piccadilly, London, and was the second such 4½ Litre built for them in this style. Research by noted Bentley authority Dr. Clare Hay suggests that AD3668 was originally painted black, with green upholstery and wings, set off by cream-colored wheels and brake drums.
This car represents the epitome of the Vintage Bentley — the classical ideal of a 4½ Litre chassis wearing Vanden Plas Sports bodywork. Its remarkable history — from its original sale to a decorated British officer to a treasured antique — is well documented by an impressive file of supporting paperwork and the meticulous research of Dr. Clare Hay. It is an honor to present this superb Bentley, a car fit for the connoisseur, which should reward its lucky new owner with many more years of thrilling pre-war motoring.
