1929 Bentley 4½ Litre, supercharged 'Blower' works specification, Le Mans-style replica tourer coachwork
- Engine
- 5.2L SOHC inline-four, Roots-type Amherst Villiers supercharger, ~200 bhp at 10 psi boost and 3,900 rpm
Chassis AB3669 is an original 1929 Bentley 4½-Litre that has been comprehensively rebuilt over approximately a decade to full Works Blower specification, in collaboration with Neil Davies Racing in the UK. Beginning as a Weymann fabric saloon, it now carries a replica Le Mans VDP-style open tourer body, a new 5.2-litre heavy-sump engine fitted with an early John Bentley Engineering supercharger, a Speed-Six rear axle, and extensively refined chassis engineering. It has been a regular competitor at Lime Rock Vintage Festival events and the California Mille.
Ownership
- 2021-08-13Auction saleSold US$780,000
- 1929 →Factory deliveryWL Van Allenpartial documentation
Original recipient of the chassis, which was delivered with fabric saloon coachwork by Weymann and carried registration YE 312.
- 1950 →Acquisition unknownCharlie Lowe Jr.partial documentation
Described as a vintage Bentley enthusiast who held the car from the 1950s until selling it to the present owner.
- 2000 →Private saleCurrent American ownerpartial documentation
Acquired the car from Charlie Lowe Jr. in the early 2000s and spent roughly a decade having it rebuilt to Works Blower specification in collaboration with Neil Davies Racing in the UK.
Competition
- —Lime Rock Vintage FestivalLime Rock Vintage Festival
The car has been a recurring entrant at this meeting since the completion of its rebuild; specific years and results not stated.
- —California Mille
The car has participated in this touring rally; no further details on year or result provided.
Maintenance & restoration
- —RestorationNeil Davies Racing
Over roughly ten years, an American engineer and Bentley specialist working alongside Neil Davies Racing in the UK transformed the original 4½-litre chassis into full Works Blower configuration. Work encompassed sourcing a Speed-Six rear axle, commissioning a new 5.2-litre heavy-sump engine with an early John Bentley Engineering supercharger, fitting large Works-specification aluminium SU carburettors, installing a fresh D-series close-ratio gearbox, and extensively reworking the chassis with Le Mans-style truss reinforcement and Blower-specification suspension components.
The original matching-number C-series gearbox was retained and is included with the car. Work was completed by the current vendor prior to the auction offering.
- —Bodywork
A Le Mans VDP-style open tourer body was fabricated in the United States, then transported to the UK for finishing and interior trimming. It was fitted with a Works-type large fuel tank, cycle wings, original Zeiss headlamps, a numbered Works-type bonnet, and a dashboard equipped with full Works-style instruments and original Air Ministry switchgear.
Body construction formed part of the broader decade-long conversion project.
- —Mechanical
A complete set of late-pattern self-energising Bentley brakes and Alfin drums was installed on all four wheels to provide adequate stopping power for the uprated engine output.
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