1929 Bentley 4.5 Litre Robinson Tourer

This 1929 Bentley 4½ Liter Sports Tourer left the factory and delivered new to Mr. G.G. Law of Renfrewshire in August 1929. It wore a Weyman flexible saloon body by Arthur Mulliner. The car remained with Mr. Law until February of 1932 when it entered the car of Dr. W.K. Chalmers of Argyllshire. Two years later it was sold to Mr. G. Dawson in London. From there, its history is not known until March of 1951, when it was owned by G.K. Stratton. He had the car registered as 'Rebuilt Bentley.' In August of 1951, it was advertised for sale in Motor Sport. It had grey paint and wore a Vanden Plas body sourced from another Bentley 4.5-liter.

During the 1950s, it was owned by J.M. Hancox who sold it to J.E. Crossman in 1955 and it is believed to have remained with him until 1973. While in either Mr. Hancox or Mr. Crossman's care, the car was involved in an accident. The damage was extensive and required a rebuild using another frame and front axle. The parts were sourced from another 4.5 saloon, chassis number AB3352.

After 1973, the car entered the care of C.J. Teal, and then to Mr. J.A. Murch in 1977. An extensive restoration soon followed. At the time, Mr. Murch also owned chassis ST3024. Since ST3024 had the stronger engine, it was swapped with engine HB3412 from chassis HB3410. At this time, the car was also fitted with its current Vanden Plas style body by Tony Robinson.

The car was in Germany during the 1980s. In 1990 it was sold to Greg Johnson of California. Dr. Johnson used the car extensively and had it fitted with a LeMans 3.3:1 axle ratio and electrical fuel pumps.

In 2003, it was sold Mr. Rodger Morrison who retained it for two years before selling it to James Stickley. Mr. Stickley displayed the car at the Amelia Island Concours and won a national award with the car at the RROC national meet in 2007. A year later, it went to the United Kingdom after passing through Stanley Mann, and was sold to Hugh Apthorp, who kept the car until December of 2010, when it entered its current owner's care.

By Daniel Vaughan | May 2019

By the mid-1920s, Bentley realized the need for a new four-cylinder model. The 3 Litre model - though a Le Mans winner - was suffering due to increasingly heavy bodies. With the 6.5 Liter in production, Bentley sought to combine the light chassis of the 3 Liter with the extra power of a larger motor. The result was basically a chassis from a 3 Litre with a four-cylinder version of the 6.5 litre engine.

The new 4.5 Liter was immediately put into competition. The Bentley Boys quickly amassed Le Mans and Grand Prix finishes and victories. Though the Speed Six was a true champion at Le Mans for Bentley, it was Birkin's admiration and respect for the 4.5 Litre that led to the development of the Blower Bentley.

Apart from its racing duties, the production 4.5 Litre was also a luxury car fitted with saloon coachwork. They gained a reputation for being a superb handling Bentley with an exceptional power-to-weight ratio.


The body of this car is a Tony Robinson aluminum skin Vanden Plas 4-seat-tourer with a 6 and 1/2 liter bonnet (long hood). This car started life as a sedan in 1929 and was quickly converted to a Vanded Plas tourer in the 30s. The car has been an open tourer most of its life.

The car is powered by a water-cooled, single-overhead-cam, 4-cylinder, with 4 valves per cylinder, 4,500 cc (4.5-liter) engine, developing 110 horsepower coupled to a 4-speed manual transmission. The 3,630-pound car has a top speed of 94 miles per hour. The chassis consists of channel-steel, front and rear suspension by semi-elliptic leaf springs, and 4-wheel drum brakes.

The car's mascot, 'Icarus,' is a rare commission by W.O. Bentley and sculpted by Gordon Crosby. The car underwent a complete restoration from the bare chassis to the Hobson Telegauge gas gauge that actually works.

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.