The “Blower” was built in 1929, originally by superstar “Bentley Boys” racer Sir Henry Ralph Stanley “Tim” Birkin, who had just won Le Mans behind the wheel of a Speed Six, but who knew the Bentleys were in for a hiding if they didn’t come up with something to challenge the supercharged Mercedes they were to compete against the next year.
Bentley has once again defied the conventions of the auto industry, unveiling its historic 1929 supercharged 4½-litre “Blowers” as continuation race cars at the 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed. Prepared by Mulliner, Bentley’s bespoke and coachwork division, these cars represent a venture into uncharted territory for the iconic British carmaker.
Back in 2019, Bentley revealed its ambitious plan to recreate its famed pre-war race cars, not as replicas but as authentic, race-ready continuation cars. These limited-run vehicles would be built using many of the original tools, materials, molds, and blueprints employed almost a century ago, in a project that blends the best of vintage craftsmanship with cutting-edge digital technology.
In 2023, the magnificent outcome of this innovative project was unveiled at the esteemed Goodwood Festival of Speed, where the redesigned Speed Six and the Blower continuation car, dubbed “Car Zero,” made their dazzling debuts. The 12-car series restarted production where it left off over 90 years ago thanks to Bentley’s amazing dedication to replicating these vehicles as accurately as possible, albeit with the use of digital scanning to assure complete faithfulness to the original models.
The continuation project of the 1929 supercharged 4½-litre “Blowers” signifies Bentley’s respect for its illustrious history and its ambition to bring that legacy back to life on the modern race track. It further exemplifies the carmaker’s ability to meld the storied craftsmanship of the past with contemporary technology, creating a tangible link between the iconic races of yesteryear and the modern racing era.
The sight of the reborn Blower screaming up the Goodwood hill is more than a spectacle. It represents the successful realization of a unique venture and heralds a thrilling new chapter in Bentley’s racing history, as these authentic continuation models of the 1929 supercharged “Blowers” are built not just to be admired, but to be raced.
Bentley has raised the bar with this amazing undertaking, but it also serves as a poignant reminder of the exciting potential that exists in the marriage of traditional automotive skill and cutting-edge technology. These automobiles serve as a source of inspiration for upcoming developments in the world of high-performance motor racing in addition to serving as a memorial to Bentley’s illustrious past.