RM | Sotheby's - Monterey 2015
1931 Bentley 4½-Litre Supercharged Two-Seater Sports in the style of Vanden Plas
Chassis No. MS3929
Engine No. MS3932
Gearbox No. 7241
Supercharger no.129

- One of the 50 original supercharged “Blower” Bentleys
- Original chassis, engine, D-type gearbox, and supercharger
- The last “W.O.” Bentley bodied in period by Vanden Plas; offered with its original coachwork
- Available after nearly 30 years of continuous family ownership
- Documented and authenticated by Bentley historian Dr. Clare Hay
- A veteran of the Mille Miglia Storica; complete with FIA paperwork
- Exceptional purity; one of the finest ever offered

The Sir Henry (Tim) Birkin Celebration Rally (in Germany) 2013: A tribute to his achievements 80 years after his passing away

Bentley 4.5 litre supercharged; 1930; ch.no. MS3929; fitted with Vanden Plas Brooklands 500 style body; 4 cyl. (orig. Vanden Plas body still existing).

Participating Team: Erich Traber and Jack Braam Ruben; Switzerland/The Netherlands

1931 Bentley 4.5 Blower
Completely restored with Weyman boattail body. Original body comes with the car. FIA HTP papers.

• Chassis MS3929 • Engine MS3932 • 4398 ccm 4-cylinder engine • supercharger with twin SU-carburettors • FIA-papers • completely restored • Replica Weyman boattail body • including original 4-seater Van den Plaas Tourer body • absolutely stunning machinery and great driver!.

Chassis Number MS3929 was originally built with a polished chassis, perhaps for use at that year’s motor show, in 1931. However, it was stored by coachbuilders Vanden Plas until delivery in 1933 with a 4-seater body to a Mr A Ansell. (This body is no longer on the car which carries replica Weyman type 2-seater torpedo style coachwork fitted by H & H Coachbuilding in 1991. The original 4-seater body does however come with the car.)

The car passed through three subsequent owners before being bought in 1936 by a Dr T W Stephens, who took the car to the Gold Coast (Now Ghana) and then on to Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). Here it was acquired by a Squadron Leader Haycroft with whom it seems to have remained before arriving in the USA in 1957. There the car remained passing through various hands until 1980 when it was bought by the current Swiss owner.

MS3929 is in exceptional condition, having been extensively restored in the early 1990s and immaculately maintained since. It has FIA Papers, and has competed in major events such as the Mille Miglia. Recently it has received a full examination and all necessary servicing has been carried out. This is a piece of history which would make a fine addition to any Bentley or major car collection.

Thsi car is for sale as of October 8, 2008. Swiss papers.

In Switzerland in 2006 / Owned by a BDC member

The first 25 production Supercharged 4½ Litre cars where Chassis Nos. SM3901-SM3925, all with "smooth-case" blowers. The next 25 were Chassis Nos. MS3926-MS3950 and had "rib-case" blowers.

Production Blower Bentleys had handbrake handles made from rectangular stainless steel, whereas the five 4½ litre race cars for Tim Birkin had the "H" section handle, but were drilled for lightness.

Bentley 4½ litre Blower 1931

This car was originally built with a polished chassis, perhaps for use at that year’s motor show, in 1931. However, it was stored by coachbuilders Vanden Plas until delivery in 1933 with a 4-seater body to a Mr A Ansell. (This body is no longer on the car which carries replica Weyman type 2-seater torpedo style coachwork fitted by H & H Coachbuilding in 1991. The original 4-seater body does however come with the car.)

The car passed through three subsequent owners before being bought in 1936 by a Dr T W Stephens, who took the car to the Gold Coast (Now Ghana) and then on to Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). Here it was acquired by a Squadron Leader Haycroft with whom it seems to have remained before arriving in the USA in 1957. There the car remained passing through various hands until 1980 when it was bought by the current Swiss owner.

MS3929 is in exceptional condition, having been extensively restored in the early 1990s and immaculately maintained since. It has FIA Papers, and has competed in major events such as the Mille Miglia. Recently it has received a full examination and all necessary servicing has been carried out. This is a piece of history which would make a fine addition to any Bentley or major car collection.

Art rendering by Tom Hibbard of a Bentley 4� Litre.

I bought this car about 1969 in a disassembled state from an enthusiast in Connecticut and finished the restoration. I then owned the car for about 10 years before I sold it to an agent for Coys in London who resold it on to Sweden (I think).

When I bought it, the previous owner thought it had spent the war years in British East Africa. When I asked the BDC about the history, they poo-pooed the British East Africa connection thinking it unlikely. However when I took the generator drive apart, I found that all the washers were Brit East Africa farthings from the early 1940s drilled and made into washers.