1929 Bentley 4½-Liter Supercharged Birkin Team Car Specification Tourer
Coachwork by Vanden Plas; Registration no. UV 2576 (UK); Chassis no. DS 3569; Engine no. DS 3569 S

Lt V I H Myluis RN was an ardent Bentley aficionado who took delivery of ‘DS 3569’, a standard production chassis, in August 1929. Myluis lived off Portland Place in London and almost certainly mixed with such Bentley notables as ‘W O’ himself, Barnato, Birkin and others. For his new car he specified coachwork by Cadogan, a London-based coachbuilder, and Bentley records confirm that the coachwork chosen was a fabric-covered sports four-seater. Myluis retained this car until 1930, trading it in notably for Captain Barnato’s Mulliner-bodied 6½-Liter, chassis number ‘KD2105’.

‘DS 3569’ passed to Lt Col C E Sanders of Gainsborough in 1930, then to J E Benham of London in 1934. At that stage the car had seen significant use with a recorded mileage of 71,973 miles. Benham apparently retained the Bentley until at least 1937, and BDC records suggest that it was unknown to the Club from the mid-1960s until at least the 1980’s.

The immediately preceding owner bought ‘DS 3569’ in the late 1980’s, the car having been in the previous ownership for some 24-or-so years. At that stage it was in driveable but weary condition, and a decision was taken to carry out a complete restoration, transforming the car as closely as possible to the specification of Birkin’s supercharged 4½-Liter Team Cars. This was to be a meticulously researched and expertly executed task taking some ten years to complete, the car’s fastidious owner overseeing every aspect and drawing expertise from only the most experienced ‘W O’ Bentley specialists.

The engine was assembled incorporating a new cylinder block, upper and lower crankcases. A Phoenix crankshaft and Carrillo pattern rods were fitted, with Cosworth forged pistons and a specially lightened flywheel. The engine was stamped with its original engine number followed by an S to clearly indicate this major modification. A Bentley Engineering reproduction, Villiers-designed supercharger was fitted, with magnesium end-casings matching those of the competition cars. James Pearce was commissioned to build the coachwork, fashioned to Vanden Plas design, including the recreation of correct style windscreen, hood and upholstery, together with alternative fly-mesh screen for more competitive occasions. The chassis and all mechanical components were totally stripped, the chassis shortened to a wheelbase of 9’ 9½”, all extra drilled chassis holes acquired over the years carefully filled and the chassis zinc sprayed and repainted. Stronger side-struts were fitted, as for the Birkin cars, and the front dumb irons and cross member replaced to accommodate the supercharger. The original dumb irons bearing the original chassis number, together with the front cross-member have been retained and come with the car.

‘DS 3569’ is fabulously equipped with Carl Zeiss headlamps, matching trumpet horns, Le Mans fuel tank, fishtail exhaust, diver’s helmet rear lamps and matching Stadium-style rear view mirrors. It is correctly mounted on 21” wheels with cycle wings and cord-bound leaf springs. The original C-type gearbox and supplementary overdrive combine to provide excellent driving ratios and unstressed high-speed motoring with overdrive engaged. Comfortable 100mph-plus performance is available ‘on tap’ and when driven in this car can only be described as impressive and memorable.

Since completion of the restoration in 2001, the car has made two trips to Le Mans, participated three times in the Irish Gordon Bennett Rally and been driven to Angoulême where it justifiably carried off the Premier Award in the Concours d’État. It was acquired by the current owner at Bonhams’ Goodwood Revival Sale in 2005 (Lot 129).

Unquestionably the epitome of the most illustrious British racing and touring car of the 1920s, ‘DS 3569’ is eminently suitable for high speed, long distance motoring or the international Concours d’Élégance lawns. As such, it surely represents the rarest of opportunities to acquire a supercharged Bentley, meticulously constructed in the idiom of the highly prized Birkin ‘Blowers’.

This car is for sale as of July 28, 2009. Price estimate: $850,000 - 1,050,000

1929 Bentley 4½ Litre
Supercharged Birkin Team Replica

This remarkable 1929 Bentley 4½ litre Supercharged Four Seater was the subject of a comprehensive 10 year restoration.

It is a 1929 standard-production Bentley that has been re-constructed to exacting Birkin Team Car Specification with its 9' 9½" chassis, Vanden Plas-style body, windscreen, hood and upholstery.

True to the original specifications, this machine is elegantly equipped with Carl Zeiss headlamps, a Le Mans fuel tank and a fishtail exhaust. It is correctly mounted on 21” wheels with cycle wings and cord-bound leaf springs.

The original C-type gearbox and the fitted overdrive combine to provide excellent drivability and relaxed high-speed motoring. Comfortable 100 mph-plus performance is available on demand. The open road awaits!

This car is for sale with Gooding & Company (Private Sale) as of February 17, 2009.

1929 Bentley 4½ Litre Supercharged Birkin Team Car Specification Four Seater
Chassis no. DS 3569 Engine no. DS 3569

S Birkin, Rubin, Chassagne, Benjafield, Ramponi, Harcourt-Wood and Kensington-Moir were just some of the legendary names associated with the fabulous supercharged Birkin Team cars. Birkin’s wealth was derived from the Nottingham lace industry and it was his influence and determination that resulted in the supercharged Bentleys, despite W. O. Bentley’s personal resistance to the fitting of the blower. Birkin’s enthusiasm and drive for achieving higher speeds was supported by the forceful Woolf Barnato and the Hon. Dorothy Paget’s money. Although 50 supercharged cars were built there were just five proper Birkin Blowers.

These thundering cars raced at such glamorous venues as Le Mans and Brooklands and in the French and Irish Grand Prix and the Ulster Tourist Trophy. The Birkin cars looked fabulous, sounded breathtaking at full song and their racing achievements were limited only by a design that was perhaps two or three years out of date. Nevertheless the legend of the Birkin Blowers and the people and events linked with that glamorous motor racing epoch live on.

Lt. V. I. H. Myluis R. N. was an ardent Bentley aficionado who took delivery of DS 3569, a standard production chassis, in August 1929. Myluis lived off Portland Place in London and almost certainly mixed with such Bentley notables as W. O. himself, Barnato, Birkin and others. For his new car he specified coachwork by Cadogan, a London – based coachbuilder headed by S.R. Moss Vernon, and Bentley records confirm that the coachwork chosen was fabric-covered sports four sweater. Myluis retained this car until 1930, trading it in notably for Captain Barnato’s Mulliner-bodied four seater 6 ½ -litre car Chassis No. KD2105. DS 3569 passed to Lt. Col. C.E. Sanders of Gainsborough in 1930, later passing to J.E. Benham of London in 1934. At that stage the car had seen significant use with a recorded mileage of 71,973 miles. Benham apparently retained the car until at least 1937 and BDC records suggest that it was unknown to the club from the mid-1960’s until at least the 1980’s.

The present owner bought this car in the late 1980’s the car having been in the previous ownership for some 24 or so years. At that stage DS 3569 was drive able but in weary condition and a decision was taken to carry out a complete restoration, creating the car as closely as possible to the specification of Birkin’s dazzling supercharged 4 ½ -litre Team Cars. This was to be a meticulously researched and expertly executed task which took some ten years to complete, the car’s present fastidious owner overseeing every aspect and drawing expertise from only the most experienced W. O. Bentley specialists.

The engine was assembles incorporating a new cylinder block, upper and lower crankcases, a Phoenix crankshaft and Carillo pattern rods were fitted, with Cosworth forged pistons and specially lightened flywheel. The engine was stamped with its original engine number followed by an S to clearly indicate this major modification. A Bentley Engineering reproduction, Villiers-designed supercharger was fitted, with magnesium end-casings matching the competition cars. James Pearce was commissioned to build the coachwork, fashioned to Vanden Plas design, including the recreation of correct style windscreen, hood and upholstery, together with alternative fly-mesh screen for more competitive occasions.

The chassis and all mechanical components were totally stripped, the chassis shortened to 9’ 9 ½” specification all extra drilled chassis holes acquired over the years carefully filled and the chassis zinc sprayed and repainted. Stronger side struts were fitted, as for the Birkin cars, and the front dumb irons and cross member replaced to accommodate the supercharger.

The original dumb irons bearing the original chassis number, together with the front cross-member have been retained and come with the car. DS 3569 is fabulously equipped with Carl Zeiss headlamps, matching trumpet horns, Le Mans fuel tank, fishtail exhaust, driver’s helmet rear lamps and matching Stadium-style rear view mirrors. It is correctly mounted on 21” wheels with cycle wings and cord-bound leaf springs.

The overdrive fitted and the original C-type gearbox combine to provide excellent driving ratios and unstressed high speed motoring with overdrive engaged. Comfortable 100mph+ performance is available on tap, and our drive in this car can only be described as impressive and memorable. Since completion of the restoration in 2001, some 7,500 or so miles have been covered, including two trips to Le Mans, participating three times in the Irish Gordon Bennett Rally and driving to Angouleme where DS 3569 justifiably carried off the Premier Award in the Concours d’Etat.

Unquestionably the epitome of the most illustrious British racing and touring car of the 1920’s, DS 3569 comes from an exclusive, superbly maintained private collection and is offered with a Swansea V5 registration document, current license and MoT certificate, copy of factory records and a history file containing restoration invoices. Eminently suitable for high speed, long distance motoring or for the international Concours d’ Elegance lawns, DS 3569 surely represents the rarest of opportunities to acquire a supercharged Bentley, meticulously constructed in the idiom of the highly-prized Birkin Blowers.

Photograph was taken during the 2006 Hillsborough 50th Anniversary Concours.

British Green / Green leather, black cloth top, RHD. Blower Bentley re-creation on an original 4½ Litre chassis. Essentially completely new engine including crankcase and block. Bentley Engineering repro blower. Overdrive. Vanden Plas-style body by James Pearce. Shortened chassis with new dumb irons (originals with chassis number stamping are included). Meticulously built and lavishly equipped including cycle fenders, radiator and headlight stoneguards, folding windshield with dual aeroscreens. 7,500 miles since completed but still in nearly like new condition. The quality of this repro Blower Bentley is apparent from the Goodwood bidders' willingness to chase it beyond Bonhams' high estimate. It is an outstanding piece of work, but also not what it appears to be and is expensive for what it is.