Manufactured in 1931, this rare and genuine "Blower" Bentley  has been owned by the same family for 55 years and will be auctioned next Friday, the 16th of August 2013, in California.

This very rare car is one of the very few supercharged Bentleys as the founder of the company loved big-engines (up to 8 litres) and didn't like smaller supercharged engines. In 1929, 'Bentley Boy' Sir Tim Birkin did his best to convince British billionaire Dorothy Paget to equip five cars with a Villiers supercharger and WO (Walter Owen) Bentley to make 50 more to have the car homologated by the ACO. Although the "Blower" didn't win the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1931, Tim Birkin set the definitive fastest lap time on the 16.340 km (10.269 miles) circuit.

The chassis, which will be auctioned by Bonhams in Quail Lodge, California, is one of only three "Le Mans"-spec cars recorded by the factory (130 hp engine, lightweight bodywork with only two doors). This chassis, which has been owned by the Noble family for 55 years, looks like new, and has been estimated at 3.8 million Euros ($5,000,000).

Launched in London in 1929, the "Blower" drew high performance from its 4398 cc engine with four overhead valves per cylinder.
Above : Kept by the same family over 55 years, chassis MS 3944 is still in excellent condition. The Amherst Villiers Roots Type IV Supercharger boosts power to 182bhp. Below  Bonhams Catalogue.

Julien HERGAULT / ACO

Translation by Cécile Bonardel / ACO