An explanation of why production of the 4 1/2 litre Bentley was started is not easy to find. The 3 litre Bentley sold at a stable level and collected victory after victory on various racing tracks. Beside this stood the 6 1/2 litre, a model that fulfilled a highly demanding client's expectations as regards performance and smoothness. At first the newcomer might be judged as in-house competition to established products. Some insight into the thinking that precipitated launching a new model may be had from its first public appearance. A prototype 4 1/2 litre Bentley completed the company's team at the 24hr race at Le Mans in 1927, in support of two 3 litres. Quite a lot can be said for the idea that the creation of the 4 1/2 litre came about because the 3 litre didn't offer promises of further tuning and the 6 1/2 litre couldn't fit the bill as Bentley's premier model on the race track due to the tyre problems