1926 Bentley 3-Liter Short Chassis Sports Tourer! Matching Numbers - Original Vanden Plas Body! This fabulous Bentley left the factory in 1926 and was fitted with an open-top sports body by Vanden Plas. Remarkably, the Vanden Plas body number is still on the original chassis, as is the original 3-liter engine. The vehicle was registered in the United Kingdom under the license plate YN9348; its first proud owner was Mr. C.G. Baxter. This 3-liter Bentley is offered in a delightfully unaltered original condition. It is also mentioned in the book “Bentley—The Vintage Years.” Although the car underwent a mechanical restoration in 2014, the last owner decided to preserve the patina of this wonderful vehicle as much as possible. Invoices totaling €70,000 for the mechanical work are available. Words can hardly express what a magnificent opportunity this historic Bentley represents: an original 3-liter Bentley on its original chassis and with its original Vanden Plas body. Simply one-of-a-kind and an opportunity not to be missed.

With characteristic modesty, W.O. was always amazed by the enthusiasm of later generations for the products of Bentley Motors Limited, and it is a testament to the soundness of his engineering skills that so many of his vehicles have survived to this day. From its humble beginnings in a backyard garage on Baker Street in London in 1919, Bentley quickly gained fame as an exciting, fast touring car that could compete with the best European and American sports cars in the grueling motorsports of the 1920s.

Bentley’s dominance at Le Mans in 1924, 1927, 1928, 1929, and 1930 is legendary, and one can only admire the Herculean efforts of such greats as Woolf Barnato, Jack Dunfee, Tim Birkin, and Sammy Davis, who time and again drove the British racing green sports cars to victory. W.O. Bentley proudly unveiled the new 3-liter car bearing his name at Booth 126 of the 1919 Olympia Motor Exhibition, just a few weeks after the prototype engine had run for the first time. Bentley’s four-cylinder fixed-head engine featured an overhead camshaft, four valves per cylinder, and a bore and stroke of 80x149 mm. Two ML magneto igniters provided the ignition, and power was transmitted via a four-speed transmission with right-hand shift.

The pressed-steel chassis initially had a wheelbase of 9 feet 9 1/2 inches and was extended in 1923 to 10 feet 10 inches (Standard Long). The shorter chassis was reserved for the TT Replica and the Speed Model. Until 1924, only rear-wheel brakes were used; thereafter, Bentley introduced Perrot four-wheel brakes. Even in its only slightly refined form, this model was destined to become a legend in motorsport history. With its leather-covered hood, classic radiator design, and British racing green paint scheme, it became the archetypal vintage sports car.

An early success came at the 1922 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy, where Bentleys took second, fourth, and fifth places, thereby winning the team prize. This led to the introduction of the TT Replica—later known as the Speed Model—based on the existing 9-foot-9½-inch wheelbase of the short standard chassis. Identifiable by the red label on the radiator, the Speed Model was distinguished by two SU Sloper carburetors, a higher compression ratio, a different camshaft, and the close-ratio A-Type transmission. This remained standard equipment until 1927, when the C-Type transmission was introduced. These engine modifications increased maximum power from 70 to 80 PS and boosted the top speed to an impressive 90 mph (approx. 145 km/h). Additional improvements included a larger 11-gallon fuel tank and, in most cases, Andre Hartford shock absorbers.

Bentley built approximately 1,600 units of the 3-liter model, most of which were bodied by Van den Plas as either open tourers or sedans.