1930 Bentley 4 1/2Litre 'Freestone & Webb' Fabric Saloon
Sold: $462,000
Specifications
| Engine | In-line 4-cylinder 4500cc |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | 4-Speed manual |
| Body Work | Saloon |
| Colour | Black |
| Interior | Maroon |
| Trim | Leather |
| Wheels | Wire |
| Brakes | Drum |
Description
Replacing the Bentley 3 Litre, the 4 ½ Litre with its advanced four-valves-per-cylinder 4,398cc four-cylinder engine producing 82kW in touring trim fulfilled W.O.Bentley's famous slogan "There's no replacement for displacement".
A total of 720 4½ Litre vehicles were produced in three different models -Tourer, Drophead Coupé and Sporting Four Seater- between 1927 and 1931 before Bentley was forced to sell his company to Rolls-Royce due to W.Os obsession with building quality cars and as a result of the recession that hit Europe following the Wall Street Crash of 1929.
There can be few cars more British than the Vintage Bentley, famously described by Ettore Bugatti as being "the fastest lorry in the world". With no less than five glorious victories on Bugatti's home soil at Le Mans between 1924 and 1930, W.O.Bentley's domination of the French endurance classic ensured a legacy for his marque that survives to the present day. Such is the reputation of the Bentley marque, that examples dating from the Vintage era fetch stratospheric prices when they infrequently change hands today.
