Bentley 3½ Litre

The Bentley 3½ Litre, later enlarged to the 4 and a quarter litre, was a luxury car produced by Bentley from 1933 to 1939. It was shown in September 1933, shortly after the death of Henry Royce, and was the first new Bentley after Rolls-Royce acquired the marque in 1931. Because it was built in the Rolls-Royce factory at Derby, England, cars of this era are called Derby Bentleys, in contrast to the earlier Cricklewood cars. It was sold only as a rolling chassis for coachbuilders, with an engine developed from the Rolls-Royce 20/25 straight-six, about 110 horsepower and a top speed near 90 miles per hour, and 1,177 cars were built. Its blend of style and grace made it popular with the inter-war elite and it was advertised as the silent sports car.