A vintage Bentley is up for sale at £128,000, but there’s a catch – it has no engine. The 1930 4½-Litre Supercharged Tourer, once one of the fastest cars in the world, is currently a work-in-progress restoration project.
When it was released, this model, known as the Blower Bentley, could reach a blistering 137mph and accelerate from 0-60mph in just 10 seconds. One of these cars even broke a lap record at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in its debut year.
RM Sotheby’s is offering this vehicle in its British Classics Online auction, which ends on 28 February. The car is being sold partway through its restoration, featuring only the front and rear axles, a gearbox, and most of the bodywork.
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The listing summarizes the car as “a rolling chassis project with correct modifications for accepting a supercharged 4½-Litre engine.” It describes the vehicle as “a fine platform from which to potentially build a ferociously quick ‘Blower’ specification Bentley,” complete with front and rear axles, a gearbox, and a reproduction body styled after the Vanden Plas Le Mans Tourer.
Bentley’s 4½-Litre model was a highly successful design, but Sir Henry ‘Tim’ Birkin believed it could be improved with a supercharger designed by Amherst Villiers. This forced induction increased both power and speed, making the 4½-Litre Supercharged one of the fastest cars of its time.
The Blower Bentley gained motorsport accolades, including a lap record at the Circuit de la Sarthe during the 1930 24 Hours of Le Mans. It remains one of the most iconic cars to bear the ‘winged B’ emblem.
The restoration project involves significant modifications, particularly to the chassis, to accommodate the supercharger. The front cross member in the engine bay was redesigned to allow the fitment of the supercharger,
which was mounted to a strengthened crossbar at the front of the chassis. Other valuable parts included in the project are a cast aluminum bulkhead and fuel tank.
The listing suggests that this project is ready to be turned into either a high-speed Blower Bentley for vintage racing or a versatile rally car, making it a rare and exciting opportunity for collectors and enthusiasts alike.
Source: Vintage Bentley selling for £128,000 has one slight drawback… it has no engine
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