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The most valuable Bentley in the world. This is the actual - and totally original - supercharged 4½-litre that Sir Henry 'Tim' Birkin raced in the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1930. Its sister car won the race but this car played a key role in that victory when Birkin acted as a hare and, eventually, Caracciola's chasing Mercedes SSK broke. |
Andrew Frankel at speed at Le Mans, where Birkin famously overtook Caracciola's Mercedes with two wheels on the grass. |
The 'Blower' Bentley at Le Mans' famous Dunlop Curves. Although the circuit has changed significantly since 1930, it remains the ultimate challenge of speed with endurance. |
Driving into the night during a 24-hour race in the Twenties must have been ever more daunting than it is with modern lighting. |
Evidence of its racing career includes pit instructions painted on the inside of the body, a lap counter and enough dials to make the cockpit look like that of a Second World War fighter plane. |
The winged Bentley emblem first saw success at Le Mans in 1924 - and then every year from 1927 to 1930. |
Approaching the sharp right-hander just before the village of Mulsanne, which gave its name to later Bentleys. |
The British Racing Green leather seats haven't been restored, nor has the rest of this old warhorse. |
An engraved alloy panel on the bonnet recounts this car's illustrious competition career. |
Powering on to the long Hunaudieres straight as the sun sets, Frankel realises a boyhood dream. |
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The car that Birkin raced at Le Mans in 1930
The most famous Bentley in the world: 1930 Le Mans 'Blower' 4½-litre driven...
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Source:
The Telegraph (by Andrew Frankel, November 2017)
Posted: Jul 02, 2018 |
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| May
2015 |
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| May
2013 |
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Posted:
Feb 17, 2009
Source: Flickr, posted by user 'racefreak' |
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Source:
Luiscezar Blog
Posted: Jan 19, 2009 |
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| 2007 |
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Source:
Bentley Drivers Club, Japan
Posted: Aug 25, 2007 |
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4½ Litre Blower Bentley |
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As the original No.
2 Team Car of the Birkin / Paget road
racing team, Reg. No. UU 5872 (shown
here wearing Chassis No. HR3976's
number plates — does anyone know
the story behind this? - VintageBentleys.org)
has had an impressive early life —
Le Mans in 1930; Irish Grand Prix
1929 and 1930; Ulster TT 1929; 1930
Brooklands Double Twelve and the BRDC
500 miles race at Brooklands, they
were all classic events and this car
achieved distinction in most.
The drivers, too, were of the highest
calibre: Rubin, Birkin, Chassagne,
Benjafield and Hall, to name but a
few. It was owned by Mr. Mavrogodato
from 1933 until purchased by Mr. Sears
in 1955. The car had been stored in
an open fronted shed (shown here)
and had been badly affected by the
elements.
At Herrentals in 1959 the car covered
the flying mile in both directions
recording an average speed of 125.676
mph, thus proving that the rebuilding
had restored its original performance.
Driver's eye view: No less than ten
gauges, five switches and two drip-feeds.
Just visible is the mesh windscreen
stone guard, raised by the riding
mechanic when following other vehicles.
The pit signal pointer codes are marked
on the inside of the door. |
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Source:
Private Motor Car Collections
of Great Britain, Peter Hugo, 1973
Posted: Oct 08, 2007 |
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This LeMans Bentley
has an ash frame, fabric covering
and an aluminum bonnet. |
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Source:
Classic Cars: A Celebration
of the Motor Car from 1945 to 1975
by Martin Buckley, 1999
Posted: Feb 01, 2007 |
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| EARLIEST
RECORD OF HISTORICAL FACTS & INFORMATION |
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| Chassis No. |
HB3403 |
| Engine No. |
SM3902 |
| Registration
No. |
UU 5872 |
| Date of Delivery: |
No info |
| Type of Body: |
4-seater |
| Coachbuilder: |
Harrison |
| Type of Car: |
No info  |
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| First Owner: |
H.R.S.
Birkin |
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More Info:
Supplied to H.R.S. Birkin for supercharged
cars.
This car was purchased by Dorothy Paget
new for Tim Birkin to race. Supercharger
was added. — VintageBentleys.org
No. 2 Birkin Blower.
Michael Hay, in his book Bentley:
The Vintage Years, 1997, states:
"As HB 3402. "Chassis supplied
for B. Rubin's supercharged racer."
Rebuilt on new 9'9 1/2" chassis frame winter
of 1929/30 with Vanden Plas 4 seater
body no. 1656. Registered UR 6571 (plates
of HR 3976) for many years." |
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Posted: Mar 01, 2007 |
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| Submit
more information on this car |
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