1931 Bentley 4.5 Litre Boattail by Gurney Nutting

Of the 43 Blower Bentley's still in existence, only a few remain unmolested and untouched, such as this example. It is a total matching numbers car with its supercharger carrying the number 125. The chassis number is SM 3916, engine number 3922, and British registration number GK 8443.

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 car returned to Gooding & Company's Pebble Beach Auction in 2012, this time carrying an estimated value of $8,000,000 - $10,000,000. Bidding rose to $7,000,000 but was not enough to satisfy the vehicle's reserve. It would leave the auction unsold.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2012