Bentley 4.5-litre ‘Blower’ & Speed Six

Bentley 4.5-litre ‘Blower’ & Speed Six Finance

Production of Bentley’s first model, the 3-Litre, started in early 1921, and the firm subsequently scored its first Le Mans 24hr victory with an open tourer 3-Litre in 1924. By this time Bentley already had an ‘experimental’ 4-cylinder 4.5-litre saloon up and running – W.O. Bentley drove it to and from Le Mans in ’24 – but with heavy, cumbersome saloon coachwork becoming increasingly fashionable among well-to-do buyers, work started apace at the Cricklewood factory on a bigger and smoother 6-cylinder engine and the first 6.5-Litres were delivered in March 1926.

The 4.5-Litre came to market in 1927 as the direct replacement for the now dated 3-Litre, but it was another 3-Litre that won at Le Mans that year, with a 4.5-Litre driven by Barnato/Rubin taking victory in 1928.

In common with most vintage Bentleys, the majority of Speed Sixes (182 produced from 1929-1930) were originally bodied as saloons, although Bentley’s significant competition success and brand image meant that many customers ordered sporty coupé coachwork. Most Speed Sixes have also now been rebodied ‘Le Mans-style’, but any vintage Bentley still with its original engine and body has long been an extremely rare beast, and originality is far more highly valued than condition.

Model specifications were subject to change 90-odd years ago but Blower Bentleys were powered by a 4,398cc 16-valve SOHC engine with an Amherst Villiers supercharger. Producing 182bhp at 3,900rpm, they were good for around 120mph.

Speed Sixes had a 6,597cc SOHC 24-valve straight-six engine producing 160-180bhp at 3,500rpm. Top speed was region 90-110mph depending on body type, unless it was a high compression, short-wheelbase works Team Car in which case some 200bhp could take it to over 120mph.

As mentioned, all vintage Bentley values depend greatly on originality and provenance, so a genuine open tourer Speed Six is currently worth from around £1.5 to £3.5 million, or a great deal more if the car has outstanding provenance.

In 1929 it took £1,475 to buy a supercharged 4.5-Litre rolling chassis (minus body). Pukka Blower Bentleys are now valued from around £3 million to £11.5 million.