Bentley 4 Litre / 6½ Litre Tourer

Baujahr: 1931
Farbe: schwarz-blau
innen: Leder schwarz
Zylinder: 6 (Reihe)
Hubraum: 6.597 ccm
Leistung: 103 kW / 140 PS
laut Angaben des Herstellers

Extras: 6½ Liter Motor

Anfang der 30er Jahre waren die 4-Zylinder Bentleys doch in die Jahre gekommen. Da es der Firma finanziell schlecht ging, musste eine schnelle Lösung her. So verwendete man ein nur leicht abgewandeltes Chassis des neuen 8 Liter Bentley. Der 6-Zylinder Motor hatte nichts mit W.O.Bentleys Konstruktionsprinzipien zu tun, es war ein Design des Konstrukteurs Ricardo. Objektiv kein schlechter Motor und mit 120 PS aus 4 Liter Hubraum absolut auf der Höhe der Zeit. Leider wurden nur 50 Chassis gebaut, bis Bentley verkauft wurde, pikanterweise an den Konkurrenten Rolls-Royce. Unser 4 Liter Bentley mit herrlicher Tourerkarosserie wurde vor vielen Jahren deutlich leistungsstärker durch den Einbau eines 6½ Litre Bentley Motors. Dieses Aggregat ist wie geschaffen für das schwere 4-Liter Chassis. Einfach eine ideale Kombination. Der Wagen ist restauriert und läuft herrlich.

Car is in Germany as of July 2008. The current owner bought it in Sweden.

1926/31 Bentley 4/6½ Litre Tourer

Registration No. GW 430. Chassis No. VF4022. Engine No. WB2571. Engine: six cylinders in line, water cooled monobloc, single overhead camshaft, overhead valves. Bore 100mm, stroke 140mm, capacity 6,597cc. Single dry plate clutch, four speed gearbox with right hand change. Spiral bevel final drive, live Back axle. Front and rear suspension by semi-elliptic leaf springs. Wheelbase 11ft 2in. Tyres 20in.

The 4 litre Bentley was the last model produced by the old company, and in its day as now the 4 litre had neither the performance nor the following, that its earlier brethren enjoyed.

The problem in simple terms was that the engine lacked power and allied to what was essentially an 8 litre chassis, the car lacked "go".

The 6½ Litre six cylinder engine designed to complement the 3 litre in 1926 was an excellent engine, and was developed over a four year period to provide what was probably the best of the Bentley engines, and the Speed Six was certainly W.O.'s favourite and wholly successful.

The 6½ Litre engine of this car was originally fitted to Chassis No. WB2572 in April 1926 and the first owner is recorded as E R Foden (ERF Lorries). Michael Hays Bentley The Vintage Years does not record the type of body or coachbuilder so presumably this was supplied as chassis only.

The 4 litre chassis was originally supplied with Vanden Plas saloon coachwork, and thus bodied would have had but poor performance.

In subsequent years the marriage of 6½ Litre engine from chassis WB 2572 to 4 litre chassis VF 4022 took place, a practice which must have occurred many times during former years, in order to endow these cars with respectable performance.

The car currently carries handsome coachwork in four seat dual cowl style, with opening cover between front and rear compartments. A plated rear Auster screen complements the drivers windscreen and gives protection to the rear seat passengers.

Finished in pale blue, with black wings and hood, the bonnet sides and tops are unpainted polished aluminium.

The vehicle is particularly pleasing in style and offers the collector an opportunity to acquire an interesting and rare 4 litre Bentley with the undoubted benefit of the 6½ Litre engine.

Offered with old and new style Swansea V5 registration documents and current MoT certificate, this Bentley is ready for the season's motoring enjoyment.