Description
First registered June 1930: GJ 6301 Original and current UK registration: GJ 6301 Original chassis number: AD3665 Original engine number: AD3661 This 1930 Bentley 4 1/ 2-litre is one of 667 4 1/ 2-litre cars produced by the Bentley Motors Company of Cricklewood, London, between 1927 and 1931. Preceded by the 3-litre and 6 1/ 2-litre, the 4 1/ 2-litre was an evolution of the 3-litre engine and chassis. The production model produced 110 BHP and the engine's ease of rotation meant that power could be increased considerably. The final development of the 4. 5-litre was the supercharged model, inspired by the famous racing driver Sir Tim Birkin, of which there were 50 production examples and a further five cars built at Birkins Works, four of which were destined to form his racing team. In recent years, new supercharger units have been manufactured to the exact original Amherst - Villiers design and a number of 4. 5-litre cars have been modified to accommodate these units. The supercharged 4 1/ 2 litre Bentley has established itself as one of the most glamorous sports cars ever built and in its racing version, Le Mans, is extremely attractive and capable. Chassis AD 3665 left Bentley Motor Works on 6 June 1930 and was fitted with Maythorn Weymann Saloon bodywork.
Previous owner The first owner was Mr D. D. Williams, who kept the car well into the 1930s and had it regularly serviced by the Bentley Motors Company. After the war, the car was acquired by H. J. K. Townshend, who was the most illustrious restorer of vintage Bentleys of the 1960s and 1970s. Such was the quality of his work that all original Team Racing Bentleys in need of work were entrusted to his care, including the rebuilding of the two short-chassis Birken Team Blowers. The period British 'buff' registration book shows that Townshend was responsible, when he owned the car, for replacing the original bodywork with an open touring body similar to or the same as today's. Townshend sold the car in 1967 to J. C. Lock who then sold it to P. G. Beck in the late 1970s. In the late 1980s Stanley Man, Bentley's international dealer, acquired the car personally and completely rebuilt it, including fitting the supercharger. Today this 4 1/ 2 Bentley has been superbly rebuilt as a Birkin Racing Blower Bentley, retaining the original 10' by 10" chassis length. The paintwork, fabrics, upholstery and chrome plates have been finished to the highest standards and the overall effect is very impressive. The axles and running gear all conform to the old 4. 5 litre Blower model, with self-winding brakes, ribbed drums and late brake compensator. The front axle, rear axle housings and steering column all carry the original AD3665 chassis stamp. The rear axle differential is the correct 6 1/ 2-litre Blower/ 4-litre Elektron type, stamped VA 4095, and carries a high ratio ring gear and pinion. The engine has been modified to accommodate the heavy crankshaft and special racing crankcase. A new supercharger unit has been fitted with the original HVG5 S. U. carburettors, and the clutch is the correct 4 1/ 2-litre/ Blower single-disc type, driving a 'D' type gearbox, with which Blowers were traditionally equipped. The gearbox is numbered 7228. The bodywork, upholstery, wings and fuel tank have been executed to a very high standard to the Birkin team's design and the dashboard has been shaped to create an authentic racing cockpit. The headlights are 11-inch Zeiss headlights mounted on calipers, as used on the Birkin team cars.
The car is represented by Historic Competition Services in Antwerp, Belgium. We specialise in finding, selling, buying, maintaining and restoring some of the most important historic competition cars in Europe and the USA. Join our mailing list to see classic cars before they hit the market.
