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Bentley
4� Litre and 4� Litre Supercharged
(1926 - 1930)
Bentley
4 1/2 Litre Supercharged, 1931, #MS3934, Vanden Plas Tourer. Brute force
was the hallmark of the supercharged Bentley.
If it hadn't been for the fact that the Bentley 3 Litre showed little
potential for a further increase in performance and the Bentley 6 1/2
Litre was prone to consume tyres at an alarming rate there might never
have been a Bentley 4 1/2 Litre. Around the end of 1927 series production
started of the new model with an engine designed to the proven pattern of
the Litre. Collecting victory after victory on various race tracks the
Bentley 4 1/2 Litre became highly successful. Based on the 4 1/2 Litre the
sensational 'Blower' Bentley was created. A Roots-type supercharger by
Amherst Villiers gave 9 1/2 lbs boost at 3,500 rpm. To run a Bentley 4 1/2
Litre Supercharged in Le Mans a minimum of 50 cars had to be produced for
homologation purposes. Though the engine had been extensively modified
lubrication was poor and cooling problems were immense. At Le Mans never
and rarely ever in another major race Blower Bentleys finished first.
Technical Data:
4 cylinder in-line engine; iron cylinder block and cylinder head cast in
one piece (Bentley 4 1/2 Litre Supercharged engine extensively modified
and Amherst Villiers Supercharger system Roots fitted), bore x stroke 100
x 140 mm, capacity 4,398 cc; 4 valves per cylinder, light alloy crankcase,
dual ignition by 2 magnetos; cone type clutch, speed gearbox; spiral bevel
final drive, suspension by semi-elliptic springs front and rear; 4-wheel
brakes; wheelbase 2,984.5 mm (117,5 in) or 3,302 mm (130 in); tyre size
5.25 x 21 or 5.25 x 31 1/2 or 5.25 x 32 1/2 (Bentley 4 1/2 Litre
Supercharged 6 x 21)
Bentley 4 1/2 Litre, 1928, #KM3086, Corsica Tourer. This body was
transferred from 1926 car onto this chassis - more than 50 years ago...
No. made:
| 665 |
Bentley
1/2 Litre (including 6 cars, which were built
after the take-over by Rolls-Royce) |
| 55 |
Bentley
4 1/2 Litre Supercharged (including cars, which
were built solely for competition) |
|