01923 220370 [Email] One of the last 4.5 Litre Bentleys to leave the Cricklewood works.

Significantly, this particular Bentley is one of the 120 produced with what is latterly termed as the "heavy crank" engine, this being specifically designed for the fitment of the Amherst Villiers supercharger, the crankshaft being almost 60% heavier than the standard 4.5 Litre item.

In ordinary circumstances this would offer no advantage, in fact it could be argued that the engine is called upon to rotate a greater mass.

However for the supercharged Bentley - the fabled "Blower" - this is the only engine suitable.

Bentley never produced a brochure for their supercharged model.

The supercharger was in reality an option at, in 1931, an extra cost of £100.00.This represented a 10% premium over the standard 4.5 Litre chassis.

Should the client not wish to take advantage of this, the spigot for the supercharger drive was removed from the crankshaft hence the standard "heavy crank" engine.

With on...