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|  | View more photos Boattail by Gurney Nutting Coachwork: Gurney Nutting Chassis Num: SM 3916 Engine Num: SM 3922 Build Num: Supercharger No: 125 |
The cars original owner was S.B. Peck who took delivery on December 31st of 1931 from the Jack Barclay showrooms in London. The car is fitted with a 2/3-passenger boattail body with coachwork by Gurney Nutting. It is the only remaining example that closely resembles the Gurney Nutting boat-tail car built for Woolf Barnato. Barnato was a factory team driver, one of the famed 'Bentley Boys' that achieved much success in Bentleys during the 1920s and early 1930s, and the chairman of Bentley.
This car was given the nickname 'The Green Hornet' by one of its later owners, Bill and Ann Klein. The car retains a plaque on its dashboard that states 'The Green Hornet.' The Klein's would go on to own several Bentley automobiles throughout the years. The car was a gift to Ann in 1953 and it would remain in her possession since that time.
Given its age, the patina on this original Bentley is excellent. There are cracks, fading paint, the seats are in poor condition, but this is to be expected for a car of its age. There is a period correct spotlight, many gauges in the interior, has its original supercharger cover, and the original folding windshield.
The car does not have a factory competition history though it was certainly fitted with the necessary racing components that could have easily outpaced competition in many racing events. It has a close-ratio gearbox, the supercharged engine, lightweight body, and aerodynamic boat-tail configuration.
In 2007 this blower Bentley was brought to the Gooding & Company auction held in Pebble Beach, Ca. As expected, it was one of the highlights of the event. With so few Blower Bentleys in existence, it is rare to see them come to market. This is a very original car making it even more sought after. Had it been a factory racer, its value would be even higher. Nonetheless, it is still qualified entrant for many historic events and could even grace the Pebble Beach Concours lawn in their Preservation Category. The potential and rarity of this car was easily understood by bidders, as the value of this car continued to escalate throughout the auction. When the gavel fell for the third and final time, the lot had been sold for $4,510,000 including buyer's premium.
The Bentley 4 1/2 liter came into existence to fill a void left by the 3-liter and the 6.5-liter variants. The 3-liter suffered from underperformance while the 6.5-liter was unsafe for the roads. The 6.5-liter was powerful, and with poor road-conditions often caused tires to fail quickly. The solution was the Bentley 4.5-liter; a vehicle that had enough power to carry the vehicle down the road at a good pace. The chassis consists of channel-steel, front and rear suspension by semi-elliptic leaf springs, and 4-wheel drum brakes.
Production amounted to a total of 733 cars of all body styles. Fifty-four cars were equipped with the famous supercharged engine, 'Blower Bentleys,' built by the race driver Sir Henry 'Tim' Birkin as a private venture - against W.O. Bentley's wishes.
The 4.5-Liter Supercharged Bentley, better known as the 'Blower' Bentleys, is a sporting automotive icon that earned its place in history as an engineering marvel and powerhouse. Only 50 examples, plus an additional five racing prototypes, were created. In the modern era, they are among the top rank in collector cars throughout the world.
Engineer and founder W.O. Bentley was hesitant to adapt a supercharger to his 4.5-liter engines. Rather, the development was financed by a woman, the Honorable Dorthy Paget, who provided the funds necessary to complete the project. It was for Henry R.S. 'Tim' Birkin, one of the 'Bentley Boys' who campaigned the Bentleys at many venues and various competition events bringing recognition and victories to the Bentley marque. The list includes Brooklands with its closed oval course, and the other extreme, LeMans, with his challenging road course.
Birkin had intended to race the supercharged 4.5-liter Bentley at LeMans in 1929, but lubrication problems on the early cars halted those plans. Instead, Woolf Barnato (Bentley's chairman and fellow factory team racer), Birkin, and Glen Kidston drove the Bentley Speed Six Models in 1929 to victories at LeMans.
Birkin was able to convince Barnato to enter the 'blower' Bentley in the 1930 LeMans race. In order to do so, homologation requirements had to be satisfied. The rules stated a minimum of 50 examples had to be built. Bentley officially introduced their production versions of the cars at the 1929 Olympia Motor Show, with the fist cars on sale in April of 1930.
With homologation requirements satisfied, Bentley entered two blowers and three Speed Six models. Birkin's LeMans blower was co-drive by Jean Chassagne. The Blower Bentley showed great promise early in the race, and by the fourth lap had passed a highly-competitive supercharged Mercedes at 126 mph. In the process it shredded a tire and was forced to stop. At the time, they had been averaging 89.66 mph per lap, which was a new lap record for the course.
The other Bentley's were given the job of chasing down the Mercedes. Their job became much easier when the Mercedes was forced to retire when their battery died. The Blower Bentley's would endure similar fate, as they were forced to retire in the 20th hour. The Speed Six models went on to secure a 1-2 Bentley victory.
1930 was the last year the Bentley factory team would compete at LeMans, as the company had fallen on very difficult economical times. Dorothy Paget eventually withdrew her support for the Birkin blowers as the cost to compete continued to escalate. This brought an end to the short-lived saga of the Bentley blower era.
It is believed that 43 examples of the blower Bentleys are still in existence.
Production amounted to a total of 733 cars of all body styles. Fifty-four cars were equipped with the famous supercharged engine, 'Blower Bentleys,' built by the race driver Sir Henry 'Tim' Birkin as a private venture - against W.O. Bentley's wishes.
The 4.5-Liter Supercharged Bentley, better known as the 'Blower' Bentleys, is a sporting automotive icon that earned its place in history as an engineering marvel and powerhouse. Only 50 examples, plus an additional five racing prototypes, were created. In the modern era, they are among the top rank in collector cars throughout the world.
Engineer and founder W.O. Bentley was hesitant to adapt a supercharger to his 4.5-liter engines. Rather, the development was financed by a woman, the Honorable Dorthy Paget, who provided the funds necessary to complete the project. It was for Henry R.S. 'Tim' Birkin, one of the 'Bentley Boys' who campaigned the Bentleys at many venues and various competition events bringing recognition and victories to the Bentley marque. The list includes Brooklands with its closed oval course, and the other extreme, LeMans, with his challenging road course.
Birkin had intended to race the supercharged 4.5-liter Bentley at LeMans in 1929, but lubrication problems on the early cars halted those plans. Instead, Woolf Barnato (Bentley's chairman and fellow factory team racer), Birkin, and Glen Kidston drove the Bentley Speed Six Models in 1929 to victories at LeMans.
Birkin was able to convince Barnato to enter the 'blower' Bentley in the 1930 LeMans race. In order to do so, homologation requirements had to be satisfied. The rules stated a minimum of 50 examples had to be built. Bentley officially introduced their production versions of the cars at the 1929 Olympia Motor Show, with the fist cars on sale in April of 1930.
With homologation requirements satisfied, Bentley entered two blowers and three Speed Six models. Birkin's LeMans blower was co-drive by Jean Chassagne. The Blower Bentley showed great promise early in the race, and by the fourth lap had passed a highly-competitive supercharged Mercedes at 126 mph. In the process it shredded a tire and was forced to stop. At the time, they had been averaging 89.66 mph per lap, which was a new lap record for the course.
The other Bentley's were given the job of chasing down the Mercedes. Their job became much easier when the Mercedes was forced to retire when their battery died. The Blower Bentley's would endure similar fate, as they were forced to retire in the 20th hour. The Speed Six models went on to secure a 1-2 Bentley victory.
1930 was the last year the Bentley factory team would compete at LeMans, as the company had fallen on very difficult economical times. Dorothy Paget eventually withdrew her support for the Birkin blowers as the cost to compete continued to escalate. This brought an end to the short-lived saga of the Bentley blower era.
It is believed that 43 examples of the blower Bentleys are still in existence.
| Photos grouped by event | |
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Gooding & Company |
Monterey Historic Automobile Races at Laguna Seca |
1931 Bentley 4.5-Liter Blower |
|
| Year | 1931 |
| Make | Bentley |
| Model | 4.5-Liter Blower |
| Body Style | Sports Tourer |
| Engine Location | Front |
| Drive Type | Rear Wheel |
| Body / Chassis | Ladder frame |
| Production Years for Series | 1928 - 1931 |
| Coach Work | Thrupp and Maberly, Gurney Nutting |
| Combined MPG | 0.00 |
| Introduced At | 1929 Olympia Motor Show |
| Chassis / Engine Numbers Shown | |
| Chassis Number | SM 3916 |
| Engine Number | SM 3922 |
| Build Number | Supercharger No: 125 |
| Engine | |
| Engine Configuration | S |
| Cylinders | 4 |
| Aspiration/Induction | Supercharged |
| Roots-Type | |
| Displacement | 4.50 L | 274.6 cu in. | 4500.7 cc. |
| Valves | 16 valves. 4 valves per cylinder. |
| Valvetrain | SOHC |
| Horsepower | 182.00 BHP (134 KW) @ 4200.00 RPM |
| HP / Liter | 40.4 BHP / Liter |
| Fuel Feed | Carburetor |
| 2 SU HVG5 carburetors | |
| Block | Cast-iron |
| Head | Cast-iron |
| Standard Transmission | |
| Gears | 3 |
| Transmission | Manual |
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| Gooding & Company |
| Monterey Historic Automobile Races at Laguna Seca |
| 1931 Bentley models |
| 4.5-Liter |
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| 8-Liter Gurney-Nutting |
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