1929 Bentley 4½ LITER TO SUPERCHARGED SPECIFICATIONS
REPLICA LE MANS STYLE COACHWORK

5,200cc SOHC 12 Valve Inline 4-Cylinder Engine
Amherst Villers Type Roots Supercharger
Approx. 200bhp with 10lbs Boost at 3,900rpm
4-Speed 'D' Type Close-ratio Gearbox (see catalog)
Front and Rear Leaf Spring Suspension with Andre Hartford Shocks
4-Wheel Drum Brakes

*Original 4½ liter Bentley upgraded to 'Works' 'Blower' Spec
*Superbly prepared over the course of a decade
*Executed by a noted engineer and Bentley expert
*Proven performer in vintage racing and rallying
*As fast as a vintage Bentley gets

THE BENTLEY 4½ LITER SUPERCHARGED

The "Blower" Bentley is one of the most masculine, muscular and sporting motorcars ever built. Where some companies hid their superchargers behind the radiator grill, the Bentley wears it right out front, and that statement alone says it all about the car and its creators.

First shown at the 1929 London Motor Show, it was developed as a private venture by 'Bentley Boy' Sir Henry 'Tim' Birkin in order to extract more performance from the proven 4½-Liter model, which was becoming outclassed by its rivals on the racetracks of Europe. His aim was to produce a British car that would enable British drivers to continue to win races as spectacularly as the 4½-Liter that had won the 1928 Le Mans 24-Hour race. The supercharger installation was engineered by the brilliant Amherst Villiers, who modestly claimed that it was 'recognized in engineering circles as a definite landmark in automobile construction.' W.O. Bentley never supported the development of the supercharged car and was quoted as saying how much he 'disliked the easy short cut provided by the supercharger,' preferring to increase engine capacity, as evidenced by the 6½-Liter and 8-Liter cars. He preferred reducing front-end weight by using Elektron castings. Fortunately, 'W.O.' did not control the purse strings at Bentley Motors, and the influence of Birkin, backed by the fabulously wealthy Honorable Dorothy Paget and Woolf Barnato, saw the Supercharged 4½-Litre Bentley come to fruition.

The fifty production cars were fitted with an Amherst Villiers Supercharger Mark IV, of Roots type with twin paddle rotors, which drew mixture from twin SU carburetors and was driven off the front of the crankshaft, the latter having been substantially strengthened to accommodate the increased power. With 9½ lbs boost at 3,500rpm the blown Bentley developed 175bhp, a healthy increase over the production 4½-Liter's 110 horsepower, while with 10lbs boost at 3,900rpm, 182bhp was produced.

Despite representing the epitome of 'Boys Own' motoring and providing the heart and soul of the hobby, selling the requisite fifty cars that had needed to be built in the dire economic climate of the late 1920s proved hard work for Bentley Motors. As a result of this, though it may seem improbable today, not all were sporting tourers. Some 17 were delivered as drophead coupes and even closed Saloon cars.

Among the few cars that were capable of 100mph on the open road. Blowers have always been regarded as the Supercars of their era. In period the British magazine Motor Sport spoke of the Blower's 'remarkable acceleration' and 'ancestry of well-tried racers' calling it 'a car for the connoisseur of sporting cars...' - Nothing has changed today!

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

Presented here is a machine that was painstakingly engineered to be the finest performing Vintage Bentley. This project was executed over the course of a decade by a well-known American engineer and Bentley expert in conjunction with Neil Davies Racing in the UK.

Chassis AB3699 was delivered in January of 1929 to WL Van Allen. As new, it was fitted with fabric saloon coachwork by Weymann and wore registration YE 312. Vintage Bentley enthusiast Charlie Lowe Jr. acquired AB3699 in the 1950s, and it was from him that the present owner acquired the car in the early 2000s.

Starting with this proper, original 4½ liter, the arduous process of locating as many correct Blower specification items began. To have the proper "Works" specification, an original Speed-Six rear axle was located, along with an original works style hood. A new Neil Davies Racing 5.2 liter heavy sump engine was commissioned. Large "Works'' specification aluminum SU carburetors feed the early John Bentley Engineering supercharger which produces 8-10psi of induction pressure. The engine's output is estimated to be in excess of 200bhp. The motor is mated to a fresh D series gearbox, and the original matching numbered C 'box is included with the car.

A proper Le Mans VDP style tourer body was constructed in the US and finished and trimmed in the UK. The coachwork was mated with large Works-type fuel tank, cycle fenders, original Zeiss headlamps and an original, numbered works type hood. The purposeful dashboard is resplendent with the full complement of large Works-style instruments and original Air Ministry switchgear.

The chassis is perhaps the one area the Bentley shows the most engineering input and refinement. The tracking is razor sharp, and the suspension is perfectly tuned for neutral handling and phenomenal grip. The leaf springs are all 'Blower' specification heavy units, with 'Blower' specific shocks. The frame is reinforced with Works 'Le Mans' style truss work. The light steering is the most surprising aspect of this car -an untypical characteristic of a Blower, but this is not any ordinary Blower. This level of refinement is a testament to the painstaking attention that went into sorting out the front-end. To stop this potent machine, a full set of late pattern Bentley self-energizing brakes and Alfin drums are fitted on all four-wheels.

A recent outing on the Thompson Motor Speedway road course showed the phenomenal performance this Bentley possesses. A Bonhams specialist well versed in vintage Bentleys found it to be as quick as any Bentley he had ever driven with incredible grip and light steering. In experienced hands the car devoured the track with truly impressive speed and handling.

Since completion it has been a regular participant at the Lime Rock Vintage Festival race meetings and has also taken part in the California Mille.

This is a superbly prepared car, reported to be absolutely on the button by its seller and is ready to enjoy. A real 4½ Liter Bentley uprated to the ultimate Blower specification, this impeccably prepared machine is not to be missed.