1931 Bentley 4½ Litre Supercharged Birkin Le Mans Replica
- Engine
- 4.5L SOHC inline-four with Amherst Villiers Roots-type Mk IV supercharger, 182 bhp at 10 lbs boost and 3,900 rpm
- Colour
- Eggshell black
A 1931 Bentley 4½-Litre Supercharged model, chassis MS 3942, is one of the 50 factory-built Blower Bentleys produced to satisfy Le Mans homologation requirements. Bodied by Vanden Plas to a distinctive two-door open touring design with flared wings — one of only three built to this pattern — it was delivered through Jack Barclay in late 1931. Its documented history includes a Brooklands race victory in 1938 under Sir Westrow Hulse, a post-war restoration by Sydney Lawrence and Vanden Plas, and subsequent ownership by noted American collectors Fred Simeone and Virgil Millett. The car retains its Amherst Villiers Roots-type Mark IV supercharger and is eligible for major historic events including the Mille Miglia.
Ownership
- 2019-08-15Auction saleSold US$1,500,000
- 1931-03-01 → 1931-12-01Factory deliveryJack Barclayfull documentation
London-based Bentley dealer who took the chassis as stock and commissioned Vanden Plas coachwork; sold the car to the first private buyer in December 1931.
- 1931-12-14 → 1932Private saleDavid Bakerfull documentation
Resident of Letcombe Manor; received a five-year factory guarantee dated 14 December 1931 but returned the car to the dealer within weeks.
- 1932-02-01 →Private saleFrench and Foxwellpartial documentation
Surrey-based firm acting as intermediaries, believed to have been agents on behalf of the next owner, Mr. Bantoft.
- 1934 → 1934Acquisition unknownH.M. Bentley and Partnerspartial documentation
Offered the car for sale in 1934, with a listing appearing in The Autocar on 20 July of that year; this issue contains the earliest known photograph of the car in original form.
- 1937 →Acquisition unknownSir Westrow Hulsefull documentation
Sporting owner who raced the car at Brooklands; the flared wings had been swapped for lightweight cycle-type fenders by this period, and a period photograph of him with Lady Hulse and the car is held in the BRDC archive.
- Date unknownPrivate saleMr. Bantoftpartial documentation
Described as the car's second private owner; acquired through the French and Foxwell agency.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownVictor Dolandfull documentation
Post-war owner who commissioned a restoration by Sydney Lawrence and Vanden Plas, documented in a February 1947 issue of The Autocar; the car was adapted to ease driving for Mr. Doland, who had survived polio, including fitting an ENV Preselector gearbox.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownFred Simeonepartial documentation
Named in the sale highlights as a prior owner; no further detail provided in the available prose.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownVirgil Millettpartial documentation
Named in the sale highlights as a prior owner; no further detail provided in the available prose.
Competition
- 1938-04-18Easter Short Handicap, BrooklandsDriver: Sir Westrow Hulse1st
Described as the car's standout competitive achievement during Sir Westrow Hulse's ownership.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1933Modification
A Cambridge water temperature gauge and a six-inch rev counter were installed, as noted in the service record.
- 1947RestorationSydney Lawrence and Vanden Plas
Comprehensive post-war rebuild carried out by Sydney Lawrence and Vanden Plas, incorporating racing-oriented upgrades including additional dampers and a Birkin-style boost gauge. The car was also modified for its owner's physical needs, with an ENV Preselector gearbox fitted and further chassis adjustments made to ease driving.
The restoration was the subject of a feature article titled 'Return to Glory' published in The Autocar in February 1947.
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