For many diehard Bentley enthusiasts, the 4½-Litre is one of the finest models produced by the marque—a hugely adaptable machine that scored overall victory at the 1928 24 Hours of Le Mans in race trim, while also becoming one of the most desirable and luxurious automobiles of its day and a concours favourite.

The Bentley 4½-Litre was essentially a development and refinement of the company’s first model, the 3 Litre. Fitted with a torquey long-strike four-cylinder engine, the 4½-Litre was engineered to the highest standards with many of its major components being quite unstressed in standard form, with aluminium being used extensively to remove weight. Appointed with beautiful castings throughout, the 4½-Litre is a wonderful mechanical object and a legendary car.

Chassis number MR 3396 was delivered in April 1929 wearing a Freestone & Webb Weyman Saloon body. According to factory service records, the first owner was recorded as J.B.F. Brown, whose UK address was crossed out and replaced with a company address in Calcutta, India. In 1931 it was reported to have been sold to the Rana of Barwani. Any further record of this Bentley was lost and today the example presented bears the chassis number “MR 3396” on the front crossmember in the engine bay. It is unknown if, how, or when MR 3396 left India, and whether the stamped crossmember on the example offered here originates from that car.

Offered as a rolling chassis project, this Bentley wears a replacement body built in the style of a Vanden Plas Le Mans Tourer. This Bentley is fitted with various valuable parts such as a radiator, bulkhead, fuel tank and steering box. In its current form, it offers a buyer the opportunity to build a 4½-Litre to their desired specification as either a racer, rally car, or wonderful road car. This exciting project is worthy of consideration by any vintage car enthusiast.