1924 Bentley 3-4½ Litre Supercharged Registration NO: KU 7926 Chassis No: 615 Engine No: AD3661 Taking a Vintage Bentley and improving its performance is no new idea. To this extreme, using the light, solid, reliable 3 litre frame, many have fitted 4½ Litre engines, 6½ Litre engines and even 8 litre engines.

This car is probably unique in using a supersport length chassis of 9 ft with the most powerful of all the 4½ Litre engines, the Blower type! Weighing some 26 CWT with an engine producing 230 BHP, we are almost into eyeball rolling country. Starting life as a pretty 1924 3 litre Bentley, her chassis was shortened to 9ft some 30 years ago. The car was well known in the USA - in Bentley Drivers Club circles, as ‘Kermit’! In 1988 the car having been repatriated to the UK, was acquired by a prominent BDC member who commissioned a marque specialist to rebuild him something very special and exciting.

To this aim, Blower type engine AD 3661 with heavy crank was rebuilt complete with counter balanced crank shaft, racing rods etc and a Bentley Villier’s type supercharged to original pattern was made and fitted. The radiator was changed to Blower and the bonnet was remade to fit. After some 2 years, rebuild finished, the new owner took hold of his new steed. He proceeded to race, rally, drive to work, using it for some 8 years and 6,000 miles without any mechanical problems. The concept worked well, and I think even Henry Birkin would have loved the drive. The present owner has used her sparingly and must rate as one of the most exhilarating driving Vintage cars which looks and sounds the part!

Photograph was taken at LeMans Race Track in 1993.