Always informed with our newsletter
If you would like to be regularly informed about the new additions to our range of vehicles, sign up for our newsletter with your e-mail address!
It was the racing enthusiast "Gentleman Driver" Woolf Barnato who pushed Walter Owen Bentley to develop and build fifty "4 ½ liter Supercharged" because the racing homologation regulations of the time required at least 50 units. As heir to a fortune based on South African diamond and gold mines, Barnato had initially prevented the bankruptcy of Bentley Motors Ltd. by means of a cash injection, whose sales in 1925 had fallen to a meagre 304 chassis.
In 1926, Barnato became the company's main shareholder and chairman of the board. Although he provided several guarantees and injected additional capital in the following years, Bentley was finally taken over by Rolls-Royce in 1931. This was the end of one of the most fascinating chapters in British automobile and racing history. Its chassis no. SM 3903 would suppose that it was the third "4 ½ Litre Supercharged" Bentley. In fact, however, it is the first "Blower Bentley" to be built in series, i.e. a prototype, as it still has, among other things, the same frame head and shock absorbers as the factory racing cars. On October 17, 1929 our Bentley was exhibited at the London Olympia Motor Show - as the world premiere for those legendary compressor Bentleys.
Compared with Bentley's huge 6½ l in-line six-cylinder engine, the 4½ l four-cylinder engine was lighter and therefore more agile, but thanks to the compressor it developed almost the same power: over 180 hp! Due to this fact - and along with a lightweight Le Mans body - the "Blower" achieved performance levels which, measured by the standards of its time, exceeded even what would be called a "super sports car" in todays terms.
What makes this Bentley 4½ Litre Supercharged so special?
First Registration1930
EngineFour-cylinder in-line engine, OHC, four-valve technology, dual ignition (Bosch), two carburetors SU HVG5 before twin-rotor compressor Amherst Villers Mk. IV (System Roots)
Transmissionmanual, 4-speed, side shift
Weightapprox. 2.050 kg
Quantity50 cars
Power4.398 cc / approx. 182 hp
Brakesdrum, hydraulic
Top Speedapprox. 120 mph
Priceupon request (VAT not to be shown)
DocumentsExpertise Claire Hay of 2013, English admission, contemporary service documents, press releases and photos, correspondence and invoices
Arrange a visit: +49 40 99 99 86 800
If you would like to be regularly informed about the new additions to our range of vehicles, sign up for our newsletter with your e-mail address!