Miguel Sánchez
Both in mechanics and in everyday life there are small details capable of revealing an entire character. In this sense, one of the most illustrative examples in the automotive world is the protrusion that some Bentley 4 ½ wear at the foot of the grill. Specifically 50 units produced in a consensual way by the factory. Plus the five that engineer Amherst Villiers built in the personal workshop of pilot Tim Birkin as a test with Le Mans in the sight. One of the "Bentley Boys". Which generated a great halo of victories and sportsmanship around the English brand.
Making it live its brightest years before being absorbed by Rolls-Royce in 1931 after the financial disaster caused by the Crack of 1929. A story worthy of the golden age of motorsports. Full of anecdotes and daring products of pilots who seemed to have fun playing with death. Nevertheless, What is it about the bulge that makes those Bentley 4 ½ units so special? Neither more nor less than a supercharger. Which made these vehicles transform into the mythical Blower. Without a doubt one of the most celebrated models by the admirers of the brand.
So much so that one's own Bentley announced during 2020 the construction of several replicas from the original plans. An artisan work whose dedication gives clues about the mythomania that can surround this model. The last great sports car built by Bentley autonomously. And possibly his most admired racing car with the permission of Speed 8. The Sport Prototype winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2003. Responsible for the return of the English brand to the La Sarthe track after more than seven decades of absence.
BENTLEY BLOWER. BORN OUTSIDE THE COMPANY
Even being inopportune with respect to the sports history of Bentley, the truth is that the coldness of the data has to prevail over any literary fickleness. In this way we must recognize a crude truth shared by the last two models cited. Separated by decades of history but joined by mechanics that were not actually devised by Bentley herself. In the case of the Speed 8 the fact is that its four-liter V8 derives from the Audi R8C. Something that shouldn't detract from the model of the English house at all. Although he points out how this is no longer more than one more piece in the logistics of the Volkswagen Group.
A whole jug of cold water in the same way and form that various English pilots loyal to Bentley contemplated the brand's transition to being a branch of Rolls & Royce. Something that Accountants were relieved with the practical mentality that hides that of preferring to be "Lion's tail to mouse head". But that, obviously, the engineers and drivers given to racing and therefore with the hottest blood did not share at all. In fact, after this financial operation, Tim Birkin put aside his preference for domestic mounts to compete on board Alfa Romeo and Maserati models.
However, before doing that, he coordinated and financed the appearance of the Bentley Blowers. Based on the stock model of the 4 Bentley 1927½, but improved thanks to a supercharger responsible for introducing more air to the combustion. In this way, the mixture became much more explosive. Increasing the pressure and with it the amount of oxygen. A key element in the combustion process, making it more virulent as this gas is more present. A perfect way to increase the power of the engine, going from the 110CV of the 4 ½ to the 175CV of the Blower in its street versions. 240CV at 4.200 rpm according to some sources in the competition. Figures really striking for the time.
AN IMPROVEMENT BEFORE REJECTED
With the Bentley Blower something really curious happens. On the one hand it is one of the most famous and beloved British sports cars of all time. But for another he never really won a race. In fact, Although it was built to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans, its history there speaks only of breakdowns and abandonments. Facts that derive from the poor reliability of the model. Which suffered from not having had a much longer and more elaborate testing phase. In addition, as regards its consumption, it was enormous. Up to four liters a kilometer when accelerating flat out along the Mulsanne straight.
Something really inefficient. Being easily beaten in its approach by the much more agile and modern Bugatti Type 35. Much less impressive but much more intelligent model, as demonstrated by its victory against the Bentley Blower in the 1930 French Grand Prix. However, although its weight and understeer character - due to the almost one hundred kilos of its supercharger located forward of the front axle - make the Bentley Blower a vehicle that is not very advanced on its chassis, the truth is that mechanically it was at the forefront of the time..
First of all, because it has a smaller engine than the Bentley Speed Six. And still with higher performance. Specifically with two less cylinders. But also with better compression ratios. Just what Vittorio Jano had been developing in Italy with his Alfa Romeo P3s, announcing the end of the idea of necessarily increasing the cubic capacity to achieve more power. Also, the second big new feature of the Bentley Blower is its supercharger. Of course. Its main feature and which, curiously, was initially rejected by Walter Owen Bentley.
Leader and founder of the company who never accepted this novelty. Being developed externally to the company by Birkin and Villiers in the former's home workshop. Only after that, and with five units prepared for Le Mans, was it possible to convince the brand to produce the Bentley Blowers in a short series of fifty. Which could also be admitted thanks to the fact that Walter had already lost effective control of his company in what would be the prelude to its absorption by Rolls-Royce. In short, the appearance of the Bentley Blower is not only full of chance but also of times on the edge of the abyss. And yet it continues and will continue to be one of the most fascinating automobiles of the XNUMXth century. Simply wonderful.
Photographs: Tom Hartley Jr
P.D. The unit that we have used to illustrate this article is currently for sale at the classic dealership Tom Hartley Junior. It is one of the rarest of the fifty built under the auspices of Bentley. And, of the 43 preserved, there are only 18 with a matching number on the chassis and engine. In addition, there are only seven of them closed with a cloth hood. Data that make this unit really special.
