page_title: Bentley 3 Litre
section_title: Survivors
hierarchical_section_title: Bentley 3 Litre / Survivors
caption_attribution_description: Bentley 3-Litre Drophead Coupé 1921 Chassis 19 wheelbase 9' 9½' Engine 20 low compression 3-litre, single Smith carburettor Reg SG 4636 delivered December 1921original body 2-seater by Gairn
context_page_description: The Bentley 3 Litre was a car chassis manufactured by Bentley. The company's first it was developed from 1919 and made available to customers' coachbuilders from 1921 to 1929. The Bentley was very much larger than the 1368 cc Bugattis that dominated racing at the time, but double the size of engine and strength compensated for the extra weight. The 4000 lb car won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1924, with drivers John Duff and Frank Clement, and again in 1927, this time in Super Sports form, with drivers S. C. H. "Sammy" Davis and Dudley Benjafield. Its weight, size, and speed prompted Ettore Bugatti to call it "the fastest lorry in the world." This was regarded as a compliment and the inbuilt ruggedness of the design has proven this over 100+ years!
  Built in 3 main variants, Blue label, Red Label Speed models all carrying a 5-year warranty, and the coveted and rare Green Label 100 mph cars, which only carried a 12-month warranty reflecting the high state of tune.
context_section_description: The oldest surviving production Bentley is 3 Litre chassis number 3. The first Bentley sold, it was delivered to its original owner in 1921.  Bodied by UK coachbuilder R. Harrison & Son, chassis number 3 has engine number 4 and UK registration AX 3827. In 2011 it sold at auction for $962,500 including buyer's premium.
  An original, unrestored 1927 3 Litre Speed Model (Red Label), chassis #1209 DE, is a part of the permanent collection at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia, PA, USA. The car retains all of its original components and is the only Bentley to compete in pre-war road racing competition in the USA.
  A 1924 3 Litre has been on display at the Shepparton Motor Museum in Shepparton, Victoria, Australia, since July 2019.
caption: Blue label #19 delivered December 1921
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