Bentley Tourer - 1929

1929 Bentley 4� Litre (Chassis No. FB3305) H.J. Mulliner saloon body.

These photographs were taken by Joyce Huey of Ellicott City, Maryland just before the 'Bentley Drivers Club's USA Fall Tour' commenced earlier this month.

Joyce was by accompanied her husband J.W. 'Pete' Huey, a long time Bentley enthusiast. (Click here to read Pete's account of the 'Official Start' of BDC's USA Fall Tour.)

Photograph was taken at the Bentley Driver's Club New Zealand Tour in October, 2007

Photographs were taken at Surrey Oaks, Newdigate in England in July 2006.

In England in 2003 / Owned by a BDC member

International Bentley Tour of South Africa, 2001

1929 BENTLEY 4½-LITRE SPORTS Tourer. BODY BY TONY ROBINSON
ENGINE AND CHASSIS nos. FB 3305. Reg. GU 3063

Engine, four-cylinder, overhead camshaft, monobloc, bore 100 mm., stroke 140 mm., capacity 4,398c.c.: dual magneto ignition: four-speed gearbox, right-hand change: spiral bevel final drive: footbrake on four wheels, handbrake on rear wheels: suspension semi-elliptic front and rear: wheelbase 10ft. 10in.: tyre size 6.00 X 21: price new in England (chassis) £1,050.

The 4½-litre Bentley was rather a conservative sort of car for a manufacturer to offer in 1927, as by this time six-cylinderism was beginning to spread down to the 2-litre class and really big 'fours' were on their way out, General Motors letting the production of 30-98 h.p. Vauxhalls work itself out at Luton. The Bentley's fixed-head unit with its bevel-driven overhead camshaft was inherited from the successful 3-litre and the new model offered over 90 m.p.h. from 110 b.h.p., together with excellent brakes and the ability to maintain its tune over vast mileages. This engine was also susceptible to tuning and outputs of around 250 b.h.p. were eventually achieved. 662 cars were delivered before the old company closed down in 1931 and one of Bentley's five wins at Le Mans (1928) stands to the credit of the 4½-litre.

This example (chassis FB 3305) is mechanically unaltered and has had only three owners from new, having been in police hands for many years. There is evidence of a rebuild circa 1938 and it currently carries a fourseater replica fabric coachwork in the Vanden Plas idiom by Tony Robinson. Condition is described as very good in all respects and it has been regularly maintained during its current ownership.