In order to get a new car into production in the shortest possible time after the takeover of Bentley Motors, Rolls-Royce based the new 3 ½ litre Bentley on the experimental Rolls-Royce ‘Peregrine’. It used a similar engine and gearbox to the Rolls-Royce 20/25, although substantial modifications had been made to ensure that the new car had a much more sporting character with outstanding performance to match.
- Production numbers
- 1191
- Year
- 1933 - 1935
- Engine
- 6 cylinders, capacity 3699cc. Separate cast iron block and two-piece aluminium crankcase with detachable cast iron 6-plug head. Overhead pushrod operated valves. 7-bearing crankshaft with vibration damper. Pressure-fed lubrication with relief valve feeding rocker shaft and timing gears.
- Ignition system
- Coil ignition system with standby coil mounted together. Centrifugal advance with hand override.
- Cooling system
- Engine driven pump and fan. Thermostatically controlled radiator shutters.
- Carburation
- Twin SU carburettors with hand-operated choke mounted on water-heated manifold.
- Fuel
- 18 gallon rear tank with double SU pumps mounted on firewall. Electric gauge.
- Transmission
- 4-speed gearbox in unit with engine. Synchromesh on 3rd and top. Right hand gearchange. Clutch, single dry plate type. Open drive propeller shaft.
- Suspension
- Semi-elliptic leaf springs front and rear. Hydraulic dampers, equipped with Ride-Control from 1934.
- Brakes
- Internal expanding 4 – wheel operation with independent handbrake on the rear wheels. Mechanical brake servo motor driven from the gearbox.
Steering: Worm and nut. - Chassis lubrication
- Centralised ‘One-Shot’ lubrication system.