With the resurgence of interest in Bentley automobiles, thanks to some stunning new models, classic Bentleys are attracting high prices at auctions. The 1931 4-1/2 liter supercharged car shown here, known as a “Blower Bentley,” will be offered by Christies at the Le Mans Classic on the 8th of July, along with a stunning array of race and road cars. Christies describes it thusly: “It is a matter of history that arch Bentley Boy, Henry ‘Tim’ Birkin desperately battled with W.O. Bentley to use the modern supercharging technology of the day to give him a car with more power in his endless quest to win Le Mans. While ‘W.O.’ resisted, Birkin was able to persuade fellow Bentley Boy and Chairman of the company, Woolf Barnato to aid his project, and allowed him to employ Amherst Villiers to supercharge the existing 4½ litre car. In those days, manufacturers were governed by the requirements of the Automobile Club de L’Ouest that no fewer than 50 cars of a model had to be assembled to deem it a production car and make it eligible for Le Mans. Precisely that number were to be built, with an additional 5 chassis for Birkin..” By the way, before he became associated with Aston-Martin, James Bond’s personal ride was a supercharged Bentley.

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