Description
1930 Bentley 4½ Litre – Racing Blower Specification
Few pre-war motor cars combine presence, mechanical character and competition heritage quite like a Bentley Blower. This example brings that experience together with the genuine foundation of a Cricklewood-built Bentley 4½ Litre dating from 1930.
Its history should be understood correctly. The Bentley was originally delivered as a naturally aspirated 4½ Litre with Saloon coachwork by Maythorn. It was subsequently rebodied and developed into its present supercharged Racing Blower configuration. It is not one of the original 50 production Blowers or one of the five Birkin Works cars, but an authentic vintage Bentley constructed to closely reflect their appearance, mechanical character and driving experience.
History and provenance
The recorded history identifies Mr D. D. Williams as the Bentley’s first owner and notes that the car was regularly maintained by Bentley Motors throughout the 1930s.
After the Second World War, it was acquired by H. J. K. Townshend, a respected vintage Bentley restorer known for his work on significant competition Bentleys. During Townshend’s ownership, the original Maythorn Saloon coachwork was replaced with a Le Mans-style Tourer body, executed in the Vanden Plas tradition and fitted with full wings.
Townshend sold the Bentley in 1967, after which it passed through further documented ownership before being acquired by renowned Bentley specialist Stanley Mann in the late 1980s for his personal collection.
Mann subsequently undertook a comprehensive mechanical and cosmetic rebuild, developing the Bentley into the Racing Blower configuration in which it is presented today. His involvement represents an important chapter in the car’s history and reflects the expertise with which the conversion was approached.
Mechanical specification
The Bentley’s present specification centres on a supercharged 4, 398 cc four-cylinder engine with a heavy crankshaft, paired with a four-speed D-Type racing gearbox.
Together with its competition-inspired configuration, purposeful Tourer coachwork and period-style detailing, this gives the car much of the mechanical character and visual presence associated with the factory-built Blowers.
The car has been built to be driven. It has been used for historic touring and long-distance journeys, including trips between the Netherlands and Scotland, demonstrating the usability that makes it particularly appealing.
Driving experience
From behind the wheel, the Bentley delivers an experience that is physical, mechanical and unmistakably pre-war. The long-stroke four-cylinder engine provides substantial torque, while the supercharger adds urgency and an unmistakable mechanical soundtrack.
The D-Type gearbox requires deliberate inputs and rewards an involved driving style. With the windscreen ahead, the exhaust note alongside and the supercharger working under load, the car offers an experience that is difficult to reproduce in any modern motor car.
This is not a Bentley intended merely for static display. It was created to be exercised, experienced and enjoyed on the road.
A usable alternative to an original Blower
Original factory-built Blower Bentleys are exceptionally rare and valuable, inevitably placing considerable restrictions on how frequently and intensively they can be used.
This Bentley offers a different proposition: the authentic foundation of a genuine 1930 W. O. Bentley combined with the presence, engineering philosophy and driving character of a Birkin-style Racing Blower.
It provides an opportunity to experience this important chapter of Bentley history with greater freedom, whether on the road, during long-distance tours or at appropriate historic motoring events.
A personal connection
The Bentley Blower was one of the cars that first ignited my fascination with historic British automobiles and ultimately led me into this profession. For that reason, this Bentley carries a significance that extends beyond its engineering and appearance.
It is now ready to continue its history with a new custodian who values not only what it represents, but also the extraordinary experience it offers from behind the wheel.
The Bentley is available for discreet private inspection in the Netherlands. A detailed history file and supporting documentation are available for review by genuinely interested parties.
Please contact me directly to discuss the car or arrange a private viewing.
Kind regards,
Rikkert Zee
Zee Cartwell
