)
Bentley Blower
| vehicle specifications | |
|
Constr. year |
1931 |
|
Price |
not for sale |
|
Engine |
4 cylinder |
|
Engine position |
front/rear |
|
Cubic capacity (ccm) |
4398 |
|
Nominal power (PS) |
175 |
|
Top Speed (km/h) |
200 |
|
Car body |
sheet steel |
|
Qty Produced |
55 |
|
Availability |
very difficult |
|
Availability of spares |
bad |
|
Copyright |
Hua De Feng Ying Co.Ltd. |
|
A little late in Bentley history came the charismatic Blower Bentley. By 1929 the writing was on the wall, to carry on racing successfully into the 30's new designs were a top priority. Funds available demanded a quick solution, "use what we have got and increase performance". The technology available provided the answer - supercharging. Although not to W.O's taste, Bentley folk have suggested probably because he didn't think of it first, "a bolt-on goodie to the 4 ?should do the trick". Amhurst Villiers supplied the answer and together with Bentley Motors produced the most charismatic and now the most coveted of all vintage Bentleys, the famed Blower Bentley. Performance increased in standard form from 110 bhp giving 92 mph to a staggering 180 bhp giving 110 mph. The look on the Headmaster's face (Bentley Boys nickname for W.O) must have been total amazement. Their reliability questioned over their racing history is unfounded - fastest lap at Le Mans 1930 and second in the French grand Prix the same year. the Achilles heel of these cars were the tyres. This problem has totally disappeared with modern technology and we can only wonder what would have been with decent tyres. This Blower is one of the genuine 50 that were produced by the factory. Being a late type, its original, glorious looking Amhurst Villier Mark IV Supercharger with cooling ribs. All parts to this car are original and need no further investigation with the exception of the body. The car was sold new to South Africa and although carried its original coachwork for most of its life, the ravaging appetite of white ants reduced the frame to powder. Thank the Lord they can't eat metal. Some 20 years ago a new VdP body was fitted and bought up to the Le Mans spec. This car blessed by the anoraks and admired by the specialist is as original and real as one would possibly want from a car, to give years of trouble free motoring. Rare and desirable. Some 3 years ago, Stanley Mann Racing did a major rebuild on this car both mechanically and cosmetically so she is ready for all those wonderful rallies, etc. now open to real vintage Bentleys. |
|
Chinese
