Found on PreWarCar website on June 15, 2020

1923 3 Litre Super Charged Bentley
The first ever supercharged Bentley

Chassis Number 221
Engine Number BL1623
Registration Number FR5189

This car is for sale as of June 15, 2020

Goodwood Revival, September 2019

1929 Bentley - Single Seater ‘Bentley Blower No 1
Concours of Elegance, Hampton Court, September 2019

Goodwood Revival, September 2019

VSCC Silverstone - Saturday 13th April 2019

"1924 FR5189 being mugged by hydrangeas. The first supercharged Bentley in the Azores on the Vintage Azores Rally."

Schloss Dyck, 2014

"Cars that Rock. Brian Johnson of AC/DC in the first supercharged Bentley FR 5189 being filmed for Quest TV"

VSCC Spring Start, Silverstone, April 2013

4½ Litre and 3 Litre Supercharged Bentley at Brooklands, 2013

The Sir Henry (Tim) Birkin Celebration Rally (in Germany) 2013: A tribute to his achievements 80 years after his passing away

Bentley 3.0 litre supercharged; ch.no. 221; 2 seater racing body; 4 cyl.; works prototype with supercharger fitted in 1927 on customer demand (Family Cunliffe); no front axle breaks.

Participating Team: Adam and Jil Singer, UK

Benjafileds AGM, March 2012

Donington Historic Festival, 2011

These pictures were taken on Saturday, 7th August 2010 at BDC, Silverstone.

Benjafields 20th at Hampton Court, May 2010

Schloss Dyck 2009, Germany.

This photograph was taken by Michael Immecke.

Photographs taken on July 25, 2009 at the Sliverstone Classic - Pre-war Sportscars.

"The First Supercharged Bentley — and the only (in period) supercharged 3 litre. Originally owned by the George Porter, we think raced at Brooklands, later he crashed and died in it. The car was bought by the Cunliffe family, supercharged in 1927. Raced by May Cunliffe at Southport Sands and Shelshy Walsh were she won her class. The car has won BDC handicap twice at Silverstone. The car was restored by Bob Reid, and Elmdown and is currently maintained by F.S Racing."

Classics on the Green, Harpenden, July 2008

Reg. no. FR 5189 is second from left.

Car is shown on Silverstone Race Track during British Racing Drivers Club (BRDC) 500 on Jul. 28, 2007.

BRDC Silverstone.

This photograph was taken at Donington Park, 2006.

Driven by Rachel Singer at Cornbury Park, May 2005

"This Bentley although originally built in 1923 was rebuilt in its present form by Bentley Motors in their racing shop at Kingsbury in 1927.

Raced from 1923 to 1928 in the form we see her now is probably her most evocative period as the first Blower Bentley.

I know some ill advised people of the matching number brigade will poo poo such a historic car but when a racing car as important as this comes on the market one has to understand that development will change the character and performance of this original car. This means chassis bits engine parts fitting of the supercharger and the fact it was wrecked whilst racing both in 1925 & in 1926, then rebuilt on the present 9 foot chassis in 1927 continuous history is the order of the day.

Now I've got that off my chest let's talk real Bentley race car. Always known as the little red Bentley and rebuilt to this form for May Cunliff to race in 1927 we have here the first Amherst Villiers supercharged Vintage Bentley ever made. (I wonder, is this where Henry Birkin must have got the inspiration to build Blower Bentleys).

Fully rebuilt some 14 years ago, rallied, raced and properly enjoyed. Restored by top vintage Bentley experts this is a real performer, tons of papers and history can be viewed at the Fruit Farm and my enthusiasm for this Bentley just keeps growing."

Photograph was taken during 2004 Mt. Equinox Hillclimb in Manchester, Vermont.

FR5189 - 'The Little Red Bentley'
Whenever Blowers are mentioned it is only natural to think of Birkin, however he was not the first to supercharge a W.O. Bentley. Originally, FR5189 was bought by George Porter who raced the car in the body from W.O. Bentley's very own TT car. The car was subsequently crashed and then bought by May Cunliffe who began to campaign it. Another crash followed in 1926, and so in 1927 the car was extensively rebuilt by Bentley's service department and the supercharger added; pre-dating the Birkin cars by 2 years. This car had great success in period, taking records at both Newport Sands and Shelsey.

Now owned by the Singer family and campaigned regularly by Rachel Singer (the time when this was written is indeterminate — VintageBentleys.org), this historically interesting and unique Bentley is now once again in its rightful place, on a racetrack.

Photographs were taken during 2003 Fall Finale in Lime Rock, Conecticut.

Photograph was taken during 2002 Fall Finale in Lime Rock, Conecticut.

Photographs were taken at Castle Hill in Ipswich, Massachusetts, in 2001.

"This famous racing supercharged 3L was owned by Robert V.S. Reed from Kingstown, RI at the time. (May Cunliffe drove it at Brooklands! Bob obviously enjoyed driving it too!). He has since sold this car and is running a Speed Six." — Don Hinmon - Jan 20, 2009

Photograph was taken at Castle Hill in Ipswich, Massachusetts, in 2000.

Photographs were taken during 2000 Fall Finale at Lime Rock Park in Lime Rock, Connecticut.

"A photo of this car at the Stalybridge Cheshire Hill Climb."

First owner George Porter at the wheel of Chassis no. 221. Car has TT camouflage.