The supercharged 4.5 litre Bentley blower holds a
distinguished place in the annals of British motoring. Arguably the most
recognisable, by sight or sound, of any Bentley ever to be produced.
These racing legends were first imagined as a succession to
the hugely successful 4.5 litre. Sir Henry “Tim” Birkin, perhaps the most
famous of the great ‘Bentley Boys’, envisaged and encouraged the addition of a
supercharger to this already notorious vehicle. Woolf Barnato, the then Chairman
and majority shareholder of Bentley Motors, supported the idea and employed the
prominent mechanic Amhurst Villiers to create the supercharger. Villiers had
history in the industry of speed, as the designer of the ‘Blue Bird’, land
speed record breaking car.
The resulting Blower was markedly different in design from
the 4.5 litre, with the supercharger placed in front of the radiator, it had a
more aggressive and dynamic appearance. It also differed greatly in performance;
the racing version producing 240hp, that is 110hp more than its predecessor. Officially
introduced at the 1929 British International Motor Show, with only fifty-five cars
produced.
In the story of British motor racing there are few cars that
carry the same dignitas and history. They are highly prized by
collectors and revered by enthusiasts. The rarity and following of these
original cars have meant that if they ever do appear for sale, they are priced
well in excess of £2,000,000.
Bob Petersen Engineering has furthered the tradition of
exceptional and ground-breaking craftmanship as exhibited in those Bentleys of
the late 1920’s. The company have become renowned for their attention to detail
and absolute commitment to the continuation of the Bentley Legacy. Largely
working to strict instruction, Petersen Engineering produce cars using original
Bentley chassis and parts where possible. The later additions they manufacture
are of the highest quality and are used to upgrade and maintain Bentley cars
across the globe. Building a maximum of four cars a year, the process is
painstakingly detailed and precise, and the resulting waiting list is lengthy.
These recreations are universally appreciated and acknowledged even by the most
discerning Bentley aficionados.
‘W.O. Bentley would certainly have approved’. Bob Gathercole,
Godson of W. O. Bentley.
This stunning example is built to the highest standard,
appreciating its long and cherished history. B101JY started out as a 1937 Park
Ward Sports Saloon, ordered by a Mr Henderson of Koster in South Africa. Research
then reveals in 1972 the car was owned by a Mr A O Endres of Johannesburg. In
1999 the car was found in a Johannesburg Jaguar restorer, in a dismantled
condition. Ultimately finding its way back to England, the car was offered
first in 2001 with P & A Wood and then as ‘parts’ by Alpine Eagle. Purchased
then by a Raymond T Marsh the chassis was re-registered in 2009 and spent the
next three years being meticulously recrafted into the impressive Bentley 4.5
litre Blower as seen today. B101JY was sold in 2014 to our current owners, a
family who live and breathe motorcars and Bentleys.
B101JY maintains the authentic feel, smell and sensation of
an original Bentley Blower, whilst subtle innovations adapt the driving
experience to modern desires and practicalities. The engine and the
supercharger are amplified recreations, offering the speed and sound of a Le
Mans worthy car whilst increasing the reliability. The dashboard and interior
have the look, feel and quality of the original Bentleys, transporting you back
to the famed racing days of the 1920’s.
In popular culture these are the cars of James Bond and Sir
Birkin. The Petersen creations are collected by fanatics like Jay Leno and are
featured twice in Top Gear’s ‘Best of British’ line up on the Mall.
This Petersen Blower is the ultimate combination of history
and legacy and it will fit into any serious collection of Bentley cars in the
world.
