1923 Bentley 3-Litre Boat-Tail Roadster
Bentley’s first production automobile represented a bold leap into advanced engineering when it debuted in 1921. The 3-Litre featured one of the first production car engines with four valves per cylinder, dry-sump lubrication, and an overhead camshaft.
Early 1923 examples displayed distinctive characteristics, including blue radiator badges, beaded-edge wheels with matching tires, and braking systems limited to the rear wheels only.
The 183 cubic inch straight-four engine used a cast-iron monobloc design with dual spark plugs per cylinder, producing approximately 70 horsepower. This long-stroke configuration (80mm bore, 149mm stroke) prioritized low-end torque delivery over high-rpm power.
The 3,200-pound (1,451 kg) chassis won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1924 and again in 1927, prompting Ettore Bugatti to call it “the fastest lorry in the world.”
Buyers selected custom coachwork from preferred builders, with 1,622 examples produced through 1929, including 513 Speed models. The model established Bentley’s reputation for combining luxury with motorsport capability.
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