1930 | Bentley 4 1/2 Litre Supercharged

This 1930 4 1/2 litre Bentley is one of 667 production 4 1/2 litre cars manufactured by the Bentley Motors Company of Cricklewood, London between 1927 and 1931. Being preceded by both the 3 liter and the 6 1/2 litre the 4 1/2 litre was a development of the engine and chassis design of the 3 litre. The standard production model would produce 110 BHP and the ready turnability of the engine allowed for a considerable increase in power. The final development of the 4 1/2 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, of which four were to form his Racing Team. In recent years, new supercharger units have been made to the exact original Amherst – Villiers design and a number of 4 1/2 litre cars have been modified to accept these units. The supercharged 4 1/2 litre Bentley has established itself as one of the most glamorous sporting motorcars ever built and in their racing, Le Mans trim have tremendous appeal as well as performance.

Chassis AD 3665 left the Bentley Motor Works on June 6th 1930 and was fitted with a Maythorn Weymann Saloon body.

Past Ownership
The first owner was a Mr D.D. Williams, who kept the car well into the 1930s and had the vehicle regularly serviced by the Bentley Motors Company.

After the War, the car was acquired by H.J. K. Townshend who was the most illustrious vintage Bentley restore of the 1960s and 1970s. Such was the quality of his work that any of the original Team Racing Bentleys that required work would be entrusted to his care, including the rebuilding of the two short chassis Birken Team Blowers. 

It is recorded in the original period “buff” UK registration log book that Townshend was responsible during his ownership of replacing the original bodywork with an open tourer body similar to or possibly being the one fitted today.

Townshend sold the car in 1967 to J. C. Lock who then passed the car to P. G. Beck in the late 1970s. The car with zen acquired by Stanley man, the international Bentley dealer, in the late 1980s as personal property in the car was completely rebuilt by him, including the fitting of the supercharger unit.

Present day
This 4 1/2 l Bentley has been superbly rebuilt as a Birkin Racing Blower Bentley, retaining the original chassis length of 10' by 10". Paintwork, fabric, upholstery and chromium plate have been finished to the highest standards and the overall effect is most impressive.

The axles and running gear are all to the correct late 4 1/2 litre Blower pattern with self-wrapping brakes, ribbed drums, late brake compensator. All of the front axle, rear axle casings and steering column carry the car's original chassis stamping AD3665.

The rear axle differential is of the correct 6 1/2 litre Blower/4 litre type in Elektron, stamped VA 4095, and carries a high ratio crown wheel and pinion.

The engine has been modified to accommodate the heavy crankshaft and special racing sump. The external finish of the engine has been finished to the highest standards A new supercharger unit has been fitted with the original pattern HVG5 S. U. Carburetors.
The clutch is of the correct late 4 1/2 litres/Blower Single Plate Type driving a "D" type gearbox, with which the Blowers were traditionally fitted. The gearbox is stamped number 7228.

The coachwork, upholstery, wings and fuel tank have been executed to a very high standard to Birkin Team pattern and the dashboard has been fashioned to create an authentic racing cockpit. The headlamps are the correct 11" zeiss stirrup-mounted pattern, as used on the Birkin Team Cars.

is car is being represented by Historic Competition Services in Antwerp, Belgium. We specialize in sourcing, selling, buying, maintaining and restoring some of the most important historic competition cars in Europe and the US. Join our newsletter list to view collector cars before they hit the open market.