Description

The Bentley 4.5 Litre Le Mans is a legendary pre-war racing car that exemplifies the golden age of British motorsport and Bentley’s dominance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans during the late 1920s. Built between 1927 and 1931, the 4.5 Litre was developed as an evolution of the successful 3 Litre model, designed to offer more power and speed without compromising durability—an essential quality for endurance racing.

At the heart of the car was a robust 4,398 cc inline-four engine with overhead camshaft and four valves per cylinder, delivering around 110 bhp in standard form and up to 130 bhp in the racing variants. The engine was paired with a sturdy ladder-frame chassis, solid axles, and semi-elliptic leaf springs, offering the strength needed to withstand the rigors of long-distance racing on rough pre-war circuits.

The Le Mans version of the 4.5 Litre was specially prepared for competition. It featured lightweight coachwork, typically built by Vanden Plas in an open four-seater configuration. These racing cars were stripped of non-essential equipment to save weight and optimized for performance, including larger fuel tanks, quick-release fuel fillers, and additional instrumentation for endurance racing.

In 1928, the Bentley 4.5 Litre won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, driven by Woolf Barnato and Bernard Rubin, further enhancing the brand’s reputation for speed and reliability. The victory cemented the car’s place in motorsport history and confirmed Bentley’s engineering excellence. While the supercharged “Blower” versions, made famous by Sir Henry “Tim” Birkin, captured public attention with their dramatic looks and sound, it was the naturally aspirated 4.5 Litre Le Mans cars that achieved actual race success.

Only a limited number of 4.5 Litre Le Mans cars were built, and many have become prized possessions in historic racing circles and private collections. Today, the Bentley 4.5 Litre Le Mans stands as a monument to early 20th-century racing ingenuity, combining mechanical strength, endurance capability, and vintage British character in a single, unforgettable machine.