Description

The Bentley 4.5 Litre Supercharged Tourer, often referred to as the “Blower Bentley,” stands as one of the most iconic and evocative sports cars of the pre-war era. Born from a desire to elevate Bentley’s racing prowess, the supercharged version of the standard 4.5 Litre was introduced in 1929 at the insistence of Sir Henry “Tim” Birkin, one of the original Bentley Boys and a fervent advocate for forced induction performance.

While W.O. Bentley himself preferred larger displacement naturally aspirated engines for durability and smooth power delivery, Birkin believed supercharging was the key to outperforming rivals like Mercedes. With the help of engineer Amherst Villiers, a large Roots-type supercharger was added in front of the radiator, dramatically altering the car’s appearance and increasing its output from around 110 hp to 175 hp in road-going form and up to 240 hp in race trim.

The 4.5 Litre Supercharged Tourer featured an imposing presence with its long bonnet, externally mounted supercharger, wire-spoke wheels, and lightweight open tourer bodywork, often coachbuilt by Vanden Plas. It was designed with racing in mind: stripped of excess weight, boasting a stiff chassis, and capable of speeds up to 110 mph—an extraordinary feat for the time.

Though powerful and visually dramatic, the Blower Bentley was not without controversy. It suffered from reliability issues compared to its naturally aspirated siblings and never achieved outright victory at Le Mans. However, its sheer charisma, the legend of the Bentley Boys, and its fierce on-track battles—especially with Rudolf Caracciola’s Mercedes SSK—cemented its legendary status.

Today, the Bentley 4.5 Litre Supercharged Tourer is not just a car—it’s a symbol of 1930s British racing spirit, engineering daring, and aristocratic rebellion. With only fifty Blowers built, each surviving example is a rare and treasured piece of automotive history, revered for its roaring supercharger whine, competition pedigree, and rakish looks.