1931 Bentley 4.5 Litre Supercharged Birkin Le Mans Replica

1931 Bentley 4½ Liter is one of the original 50 factory supercharged models in order to homologate the car for the Le Mans race. The chassis was completed in March of 1931 and it was purchased as stock for London Bentley Dealer Jack Barclay who ordered it bodied by Vanden Plas. A two door design was selected with flared wings, the same as found on chassis MS3941. Vanden Plas built three of these bodies and fitted them with a larger 25-gasson gas tank and special pattern racing seats. The original color was egg shell black with mottled grey leather upholstery.

Mr. David Baker of Letcombe Manor acquired this car from Jack Barclay in December of 1931, kept it for a short time, and then returned it in January of 1932. The car was then sold a month later to French & Foxwell, a firm based in Burgh Heath and Surrey. H.M Bentley and Partners offered it for sale in 1934. In 1937 the car passed into the ownership of Sir Westrow Hulse. By this point in history, the car was in similar condition to when it left the factory, but its flared wings had been replaced by lightweight cycle pattern fenders.

Sir Westrow campaigned the car at Brooklands and perhaps its best finish was in the Easter Short Handicap on April 18th, 1938.

After World War II, the car was rebuilt for its owner, Mr. Victor Doland, by Sydney Lawrence and Vanden Plas, and the work was documented in a February 1947 issue of The Autocar. During the restoration, the car received several racing modifications such as extra dampeners and a Birkin style boost gauge. Mr. Doland had survived polio, so modifications were made to make it easier for him to use, including an ENV Preselector gearbox. The chassis and original body was shortened to 117.5-inches, the length of the two Birkin Team road racing cars. Even with these modifications, the car proved too difficult for Mr. Doland to drive and he sold it shortly after to Mr. Tom Walker.

Mr. Walker campaigned the car on a great amount of events, including the BDC Eastborne Rally in 1953. Around this time, Mr. Walker also purchased MS3945 and installed the engine and gearbox from MS3945 into MS3942; both are currently in the car. The original engine from MS3942, was fitted to Gordon McDonalds 3-4 1/2 race car chassis DE1207.

Mr. Walker sold MS3942 to Mr. Robert A. Wimbush in New York State, in 1954. Its next owner was Robert de Graff, when then sold it to Mr. A Boyer in 1962 who retained it until 1973. When the car was returned to the UK, it was purchased by G.T. Tait.

In the early 1980s, the car was given a full restoration and rebuilt as a Birkin Short Chassis replica. The original body was to 4 1/2 chassis Number HF3189, which it currently still wears. After the restoration, the car was acquired by Thomas Perkins who kept it until late 1988, when it was purchased by Dr. Fred Simeone, who was looking for a Blower 4 1/2 to trade to Virgil Millett. Mr. Millett used the Bentley regularly and at various RROC meets. It awarded first place in 1994 in RROC Vintage Bentley Touring class at the National Meet.

After Virgil Millett's passing, the car was put into static storage on the Millett family farm, where it would remain for close to two decades. It has recently emerged from its slumber and given an extensive recommissioning.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2019