{"id":276125,"date":"2016-04-24T08:52:54","date_gmt":"2016-04-24T08:52:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.supercars.net\/blog\/?p=276125"},"modified":"2024-02-19T21:09:54","modified_gmt":"2024-02-19T21:09:54","slug":"1929%e2%86%921931-bentley-4%c2%bd-litre-blower","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.supercars.net\/blog\/1929%e2%86%921931-bentley-4%c2%bd-litre-blower\/","title":{"rendered":"1929 Bentley 4\u00bd Litre Blower"},"content":{"rendered":"

1929\u21921931 Bentley 4\u00bd Litre Blower<\/h1>\n
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With it’s front mounted supercharger, the 4\u00bd became one of Walter Owen Bentley’s quintessential British sportscars. It was the vision and product of Sir Henry Ralph Stanley ‘Tim’ Birkin who persuaded Bentley to produce 50 examples of the model. <\/span><\/p>\n

The company Birkin & Couper Ltd. was established to specifically supercharge Bentley’s four-cylinder cars despite W.O. Bentley’s apprehension. W.O. Bentley said “They would lack in their preparation all the experience we had built up in (our own) racing department over 10 years. I feared the worst and looked forward to their first appearance with anxiety.”<\/p>\n

Unblown, the standard 4.5 liter engine put out 110HP. The use of a Roots supercharger offered an increase in power to 240 bhp. The power was necessary due to the massive size and weight of the car.<\/p>\n

The overall design of the car was heavy and large. The tall engine forced the driver to sit with his head 63 inches above ground. To help compensate for a high center of gravity & weight Bentley employed the use of stiff and heavily damped springs. Excessive weight of the car due to huge brakes, large chassis & a bulky rear axle put the car in a class of its own. The Blower is one of the heaviest cars to compete in racing.<\/p>\n

The first single seat prototype was initially built in 1929 with racer Mike Couper. The finished product was a 1\u00bd-seat Bentley with a massive 10 feet 10 inch wheelbase. It had a fabric skin stretched over steel structure that barely covered the components. It became the fastest racecar in Britain by holding the Brooklands Outer Circuit Lap Record in 1930.<\/p>\n

Birkin established Birkin & Couper Ltd. where the first Blowers were made. W.O. Bentley said “They would lack in their preparation all the experience we had built up in (our own) racing department over 10 years. I feared the worst and looked forward to their first appearance with anxiety…”<\/i><\/p>\n

The first appearance of the car was the Brooklands 6-Hour race on June 29,1929. Later in the year more 4\u00bd Litre Bentleys were fitted with Birkin’s blower system and one placed second in the RAC Tourist Trophy, but they never won a race.<\/p>\n

Bentley described the model at the end of the season “The supercharged 4\u00bd never won a race, suffered a never-ending series of mechanical failures, brought the marque Bentley disrepute and incidentally cost Dorothy Paget a large sum before she decided to withdraw her support in October 1930…”<\/i><\/p>\n

Despite the lack of results, Wolf Barnato allowed Birkin to try the cars again at Le Mans but none of them endured to finish. This meant Bentley was obliged to produce 50 road going examples of the model which they did.<\/p>\n

The number 9 car featured above, UU5872, is an original Birkin car known as ‘Birkin Blower No.2’. This car made an appearance at the 1930 Lemans. The first car featured above is an unrestored 1928 works blower.<\/p>\n

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In Detail<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
tags<\/td>\n4.5<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
submitted by<\/td>\nRichard Owen<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
type<\/td>\nSeries Production Car<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
production years<\/td>\n1929 – 1931<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
engineers<\/td>\nWalter Owen Bentley<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
production<\/td>\n55<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
engine<\/td>\nInline-4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
aspiration<\/td>\nAmhurst Villiers Roots-Type Supercharger<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
block material<\/td>\nCast Iron<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
valvetrain<\/td>\nSOHC 4 Valves \/ Cyl<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
fuel feed<\/td>\n2 SU HVG5 Carburettors<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
displacement<\/td>\n4398 cc \/ 268.38 in\u00b3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
bore<\/td>\n100 mm \/ 3.94 in<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
stroke<\/td>\n140 mm \/ 5.51 in<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
power<\/td>\n130.5 kw \/ 175 bhp @ 3500 rpm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
specific output<\/td>\n39.79 bhp per litre<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
bhp\/weight<\/td>\n90.67 bhp per tonne<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
body \/ frame<\/td>\nFabric Body over Steel Ladder-Type Chassis<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
driven wheels<\/td>\nRWD<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
front tires<\/td>\nDunlop 6×21<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
rear tires<\/td>\nDunlop 6×21<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
front brakes<\/td>\nMechnical Drums<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
rear brakes<\/td>\nMechnical Drums<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
front wheels<\/td>\nF 53.3 x 15.2 cm \/ 21.0 x 6.0 in<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
rear wheels<\/td>\nR 53.3 x 15.2 cm \/ 21.0 x 6.0 in<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
steering<\/td>\nWorm & Wheel<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
f suspension<\/td>\nSolid Axle w\/Semi-Elliptic Leaf Springs, Friction Dampers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
r suspension<\/td>\nLive Axle w\/Semi-Elliptic Leaf Springs, Friction Dampers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
curb weight<\/td>\n1930 kg \/ 4250 lbs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
wheelbase<\/td>\n3302 mm \/ 130.0 in<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
front track<\/td>\n1384 mm \/ 54.5 in<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
rear track<\/td>\n1384 mm \/ 54.5 in<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
length<\/td>\n4369 mm \/ 172.0 in<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
width<\/td>\n1740 mm \/ 68.5 in<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
height<\/td>\n1600 mm \/ 63.0 in<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
transmission<\/td>\n4-Speed Manual<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
top speed<\/td>\n~209.2 kph \/ 130.0 mph<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Auction Sales History<\/h4>\n

\"1108461-1024\"<\/p>\n

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1931 Bentley 4\u00bd-Litre Supercharged Two-Seater Sports MS3929<\/a> – <\/b><\/p>\n

One of the 50 original supercharged \u201cBlower\u201d Bentleys. Original chassis, engine, D-type gearbox, and supercharger. The last \u201cW.O.\u201d Bentley bodied in period by Vanden Plas; offered with its original coachwork. Available after nearly 30 years of continuous family ownership. Documented and authenticated by Bentley historian Dr. Clare Hay. A veteran of the Mille Miglia Storica; complete with FIA paperwork. Exceptional purity; one of the finest ever offered.<\/div>\n

Auction Source: <\/b>RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2015<\/a>
\n\"1072874-1024\"<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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1931 Bentley 4\u00bd Liter Supercharged Le Mans MS 3944<\/a> – <\/b><\/p>\n

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One of three Original Le Mans Specification production Supercharged cars built. Owned by the Noble family for more than 55 years. Original components and numbers as delivered new from Bentley. Documented by Bentley Expert Dr. Clare Hay. Eligible for Mille Miglia and more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Auction Source: <\/b>2013 Quail Lodge Auction by Bonhams<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"1042059\"<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
1931 Bentley 4\u00bd Litre \u2018Blower\u2019 Sports 2\/3 Seater Boattail SM3916<\/a> – did not sell for $7,100,000<\/b> Among the Finest of the 50 Factory Blowers. Exceedingly Rare, Matching-Numbers, Original-Bodied Example. Exceptional Provenance Including a 54-Year Stewardship. One of Very Few Vintage Bentleys with Original Fabric Covering. Ideal International Driving and Concours Event Entrant. One of the Most Significant Bentleys in Existence
\nAuction Source: <\/b>2012 Pebble Beach Auctions by Gooding & Company<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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1929 Bentley 4\u00bd Litre \u2018Blower\u2019 Single-Seater<\/a> – <\/b><\/p>\n

It is now offered here as an exceedingly potent reminder of a magisterial period of British racing history, a machine with a unique place in racing history, and the exception to the W.O. Bentley ‘rule’ that “…the supercharged 4\u00bd never won a race”.<\/div>\n

Auction Source: <\/b>2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"883872\"<\/p>\n

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1929 Bentley 4\u00bd-Liter Supercharged DS3569<\/a> – <\/b><\/p>\n

The immediately preceding owner bought \u2018DS 3569\u2019 in the late 1980\u2019s, the car having been in the previous ownership for some 24-or-so years. At that stage it was in driveable but weary condition, and a decision was taken to carry out a complete restoration, transforming the car as closely as possible to the specification of Birkin\u2019s supercharged 4\u00bd-Liter Team Cars. This was to be a meticulously researched and expertly executed task taking some ten years to complete, the car\u2019s fastidious owner overseeing every aspect and drawing expertise from only the most experienced \u2018W O\u2019 Bentley specialists.<\/div>\n

Auction Source: <\/b>2009 Bonhams Exceptional Motorcars at Quail Lodge Resort<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n