The Bentley 4 Litre was a limited series of cars built by Bentley as a last-ditch attempt to avoid receivership. The car was an exception to the ones usually made by Bentley at that time. It was based on a modified 4-liter engine in an 8-liter chassis. The main objective was to offer a smaller car than the enormous engines and heavy cars that Bentley designed before the Bentley 4 Litre. The Bentleys were big, opulent gas guzzlers and were victims of bad timing as the Wall Street Crash had tightened everyone's pockets. Bentley soon went into receivership to Rolls Royce, and after that, only 50 cars were built with the 1931 Bentley 4-liter tag. This is, ironically, one of the reasons why the car is so rare and valuable at present.
People at Bentley were sure that supercharging was the way forward, and many car makers of the time, like Alfa Romeo, Mercedes-Benz, and Bugatti, were succeeding in competitions with supercharged power plants. The Bentley 4-Litre proves that even comparatively small engines can offer excellent performance without supercharging. The engine allows for superior acceleration and smooth driving at speeds less than ten mph for docile driving. The engine responds to gear changes when driven at high speeds, like in any race car. The gearbox and speed changes are smooth and pleasurable once you get the hang of it. The car reaches 90 mph from idling speed in around 30 seconds. However, this will vary according to every car's condition since only some vehicles will be so well run. Not everyone will have the nerve to ask such an old warhorse to perform such antics, even if it can! The Bentley 4-Litre has a reputation as a smaller car launched by Bentley. Still, the body is 3700 pounds plus heavyweight with a customized body designed by a coachbuilder per the buyer's preferences. The car is enormous by modern standards. Its body is over 14 feet long and front-heavy, with a prominent radiator.
To climb into the Bentley 4-Litre, you enter from the side door and shuffle into place as the humongous steering wheel sits low and will probably touch your lap. The bucket seats are well-upholstered and comfortable to sit on. The seating is such that you cannot see the car's sides, although the round lamps pinpoint the car's center. The handbrake is outside the vehicle, where the door hinges should be, and it is massive! The four-speed gear shift is inside the car on the right. The dashboard has a range of Jaeger and Smiths instruments, the most interesting of which is the chronometric rev-counter, whose needle moves up and down the scale as the car runs. A sequence of events needs to take place to start the vehicle. There is an electric master switch under the dash, and then you pull a Bakelite fuel switch, tug on brass magneto switches, ignition, and press the starter. At idle, the engine pops and stutters. The gearbox can be a joy for manual gear fans and a challenge for those rendered lazy by automatic shifts.
At first sight, the Bentley seems like most cars of that period, with its narrow engine housing, fronted by a tall radiator and big round headlamps; some models have a spare wheel on the side. The car is all sound and fury as its engine is loud, and the exhaust emits petrol fumes. The car is fast despite its bulk and its smaller engine. The wheels are wide and seem supportive of the high speeds the car is capable of. The steering is unbelievably heavy, and maneuvering it is challenging and will give you a shoulder and arm workout on a long drive. This is probably due to us becoming used to power steering and smaller, lighter cars. On a drive, the car is light and responds surprisingly well to the steering and gear changes. You must be prepared for turns, as the car can surprise you if you are not alert.
The much talked about 4-liter engine is a six-cylinder with overhead inlet exhaust valves and an output of 120bhp at 4,000rpm. The chassis was double-dropped based on the Bentley 8-Litre and was available in two wheelbase lengths - 11' 2" and 11' 8". For more details, visit here. This design's adaptability was not appreciated then but proved hugely successful post-war. Both Bentley and Rolls-Royce used this configuration for as long as 1959. The 4-litre adaptation had the best chassis, gearbox, and axles of all Bentleys made in the era and proved tremendously effective in 6 and 8-litre engines later on.
Purchasing a 1931 Bentley 4-Litre right now will need at least $400,000, a justifiable price given its history and performance record. Over time, the Bentley 4 Litre has gradually increased its value, making it a collector's item. The average market price for a 1931 Bentley 4-Litre is around $450,000, making it an undeniable offer for those looking to add a piece of automotive history to their collection. Are you interested in a 1931 Bentley 4-Litre? We've got you covered here at Exotic Car Trader. Our platform has several Bentleys for sale, even if they are not all 1931 Bentley 4-Litre, and if you need help finding any that matches your taste, keep checking back as we update our Bentley listings frequently.
Vintage Bentleys like the 1931 Bentley 4-Litre are still usable, which is a testament to their engineering and design quality. They have the aura to carry their unique personality, and their rarity is one of their main attractions. You are becoming part of a unique piece of automotive history. Exotic Car Trader gives users an exclusive and safe way of buying and selling cars by removing the negative experiences of private selling for buyers and sellers. All cars listed on Exotic Car Trader go through a private seller verification process to ensure legitimacy for our buyers. The Exotic Car Trader's car buying process and all fees and packages are clearly defined. This gives our buyers a smooth and inclusive experience. We also offer customers the escrow of funds at no additional cost to the buyer and seller, and we also provide buyers with trade-in and financing options. For transaction safety, we have world-class fraud detection tools for our transactions team, which are widely used by the industry. You will get these benefits when buying or selling on Exotic Car Trader. Contact us for listing services or to buy a car on Exotic Car Trader today! With a considerable reputation for quality engineering, the 1931 Bentley 4 Litre presents a compelling option for buyers seeking a top-tier classic car at a competitive price.
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