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1931 Bentley 4/8 Litre    
Original 1932 Numbers
Chassis No. VA4079
Engine No. VA4081
Registration No. GX 9

  This car - updated
Chassis No. VA4079
Engine No. -
Registration No. GX 9

(Updated with information from Vintage & Prestige. - November 2018)
 
November 2018
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March 2019: Sold

Found on Vintage & Prestige website on November 22, 2018

1932 Bentley Blower 4/8 litre racer
Chassis no: VA4079
Registration: GX9
Price: £885,000

Visceral to say the least. This is without doubt the fastest & longest legged W.O. Bently's we have so far handled. VA4079 started life as a 4 litre car leaving the factory in March of 1932 making it one of the very last W.O. cars produced. It was originally fitted with a Vanden Plas Drop Head Coupe Body.

The car was falling into disrepair in the 1970s, then in the 1990s was acquired by an eminent overseas collector, who embarked on a major restoration including the installation of an 8 litre engine, and remodelling the car based on the legendary Bentley Old No.1, in her final guise as a Brooklands outer circuit racer. The 8 litre & 4 litre chassis were very very similar so the 4 litre chassis is well suited to such upgrades.

The current owner has further enhanced the car, both cosmetically and mechanically, vastly improving the performance by the addition of an original pattern Amherst Villiers Rootes style Blower unit (as fitted to the Birkin Blowers) & also has fitted an overdrive giving the car a very relaxed long legged gait at high speeds. Much of the recent works have been carried out by Marque specialist Neil Davies who has done a fantastic job on the car.

One has to drive this car to appreciate its power & performance. It has real presence driving down the road & attracts an instant crowd wherever it stops. The car is resplendent in its deep racing red paintwork & has mulberry coloured leather to the seating surfaces. Twin aero screens are fitted as is a fold up windshield that the soft top foul weather gear affixes to. A full tonneau cover comes with the car for occasional use to keep out the elements & prying eyes when parked unattended.

The long bonnet has a full quotient of louvres along the top & down the sides & is secured in place by leather straps. A useful luggage area is located under the rear hatch that hinges open once released using a square profile coach key. The hood is also stored in the rear area.

The car is fitted wth a large long distance fuel tank. We did not ascertain the full capacity as the fuel station pump cut off when we reached £120 worth. The dash is a traditional machine turned aluminium affair covered in all the usual instrumentation including boost gauge, rev counter & speedometer etc. Twin drip feed oilers are also mounted in the dash. A drain pipe sized exhaust runs down the passengers side exterior of the car culminating in an elegant fish tail affair.

Magnificent, thunderous & imposing would sum up this machine. It is full on Mr Toad W.O.Bentley motoring at its finest.

Starting proceedure is as follows:

~ Turn on fuel shut off tap.
~ If cold prime 5 or 6 pumps of the Kigas pump.
~ Both Magneto switches on.
~ Fuel Pump on.

Depress bomb release type starter button & crank 'til the engine fires. Whilst cold the engine will splutter & pop back alarmingly but this quickly disappears as the car warms. Each popping back is accompanied by an impressive puff of smoke that blows wisply out of the bonnet louvres adding to the full "parp parp out of my way" effect.

 
     
     
  Source: Vintage & Prestige
Posted: Nov 22, 2018
 
     
November 2017
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Found on NDR Limited website on November 3, 2017

4/8 Litre Blower Bentley
GX9, being one of the last genuine Bentleys built, left the factory in March 1932 with a Vanden Plas Drop Head Coupe Body.

The car was falling into disrepair in the 1970s, then in the 1990s was acquired by an eminent overseas collector, who embarked on a major restoration including the installation of an 8 litre engine, and remodelling the car based on the legendary Bentley Old No.1, in her final guise as a Brooklands outer circuit racer. The current owner has further enhanced the car, both cosmetically and mechanically, vastly improving the performance by the addition of an original pattern Amherst Villiers Rootes style Blower unit (as fitted to the Birkin Blowers).

In her current form, she makes a perfect long range tourer and as the pictures confirm she has a remarkable presence, a truly stunning vintage sports car.

 
     
     
  Source: Neil Davies Historic Racing
Updated: Mar 15, 2018
Posted: Dec 05, 2017
 
     
July 2012
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Windsor July 2012

 
     
     
  Source: Flickr, posted by user 'D Richards'
Posted: Oct 17, 2012
 
     
November 2010
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This car is for sale as of Nov 5, 2010 with Neil Davies.

 
     
     
  Source: Neil Davies Historic Racing
Posted: Nov 08, 2010
 
     
2008
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Bentley 8 Litre. Watch video here.

 
     
     
  Source: YouTube
Posted: Aug 19, 2008
 
     
2006
In Spain in 2006 / Owned by a BDC member
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  Source: Wim Kamper
Posted: Feb 23, 2007
 
     
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Chassis no: VA4079
Coachbuilder: Vanden Plas

 
     
     
  Source: Pipo Aymamí
Posted: May 14, 2014
 
     
EARLIEST RECORD OF HISTORICAL FACTS & INFORMATION
 
Chassis No. VA4079
Engine No. VA4081
Registration No. GX 9
Date of Delivery: Mar 1932
Type of Body: DHC
Coachbuilder: Vanden Plas
Type of Car: L
   
First Owner: BROWNSTONE N
 
     
  More Info: According to original Vanden Plas Coachbuilder records, this car was originally fitted with Body No. 1759 with a long drop-head coupe; black / red line; 3/1932.

Michael Hay, in his book Bentley: The Vintage Years, 1997, states: "F/8126. Vanden Plas body no. 1759. Rebuilt as replica of "Old No.1" in 1932 form with new 8 Litre engine. Vanden Plas body no. 1759 fitted to ch. VF 4008."
 
     
     
  Updated: Jul 06, 2007
Posted: Mar 01, 2007
 
     
 
 
 
Submit more information on this car
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sep 30, 2020 - Info and photograph received from Simon Hunt for Chassis No. RL3439
Sep 30, 2020 - Info and photographs received from Dick Clay for Chassis No. 147
Sep 29, 2020 - Info and photographs received from Ernst Jan Krudop for his Chassis No. AX1651
Sep 28, 2020 - Info and photographs received from Lars Hedborg for his Chassis No. KL3590
Sep 25, 2020 - Info and photograph added for Registration No. XV 3207
Sep 24, 2020 - Info and photograph added for Registration No. YM 7165
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