Bentley Unveils 85% Scale 'Blower Jnr': A Masterpiece of Craftsmanship and Innovation
Bentley Motors and The Little Car Company have unveiled a breathtaking jewel destined to etch itself into the annals of automotive history in a dazzling symphony of automotive nostalgia and modern marvel. Behold, 'Blower Jnr,' an 85 per cent scaled masterpiece, a luminous tribute to the iconic 1929 Bentley 4½-litre Supercharged Team Car No. 2.
'Blower Jnr' emerges as a testament to its creators' consummate artistry and precision, embodying the very essence of Bentley's storied legacy. This vehicular virtuoso, born from a divine union between The Little Car Company and Bentley's Heritage Collection, serves as the veritable baptism of The Little Car Company into the world of road-legal wonderment.
With craftsmanship so meticulous that it verges on the divine, 'Blower Jnr' is an unyielding embodiment of Bentley's unwavering commitment to excellence. Its sinewy heart beats with a 15 kW (20 bhp) electric motor, seamlessly integrated into a 48V electric powertrain. It dances with the wind, caressing a top speed of 45 mph (72 km/h) in the UK and EU, yielding to the gentle flow of 25 mph (40 km/h) in the USA, bowing to the whims of local regulations. 'Blower Jr.' cradles two discerning souls, offering an estimated journey of 65 miles.
This audacious marvel, this 'Blower Jnr,' is more than a mere tribute. It is a captivating reverie, a harmonious collaboration between The Little Car Company and Bentley's Heritage Collection, a tribute to an automotive deity valued at £25 million. A canvas of engineering prowess and artistic zeal, it stretches 3.7 meters long, carving a niche in road-ready elegance.
Beneath its beguiling visage, 'Blower Jnr' genuflects on its progenitor with an authentic steel frame, a chassis so devoutly recreated that it invokes an era of leaf springs and scaled-down, period-appropriate friction dampers, ushering passengers on a cloud of comfort. Brembo disc brakes at the fore and drums at the rear orchestrate a ballet of efficient deceleration. The electric motor, poised at the end, is a maestro's stroke, while the batteries and drive electronics rest in a concealed undertray, unseen but ever-present.
The very skin of this automotive marvel sings a serenade to craftsmanship, its rear body structure serenading in carbon fibre cloaked in impregnated fabric, mirroring its forebear. The aluminium bonnet, kissed by cooling louvres, emerges as an artisan's testament, anchored by leather-buckled bonnet straps. Within the 1+1 cockpit, passengers luxuriate in a central adjustable driving throne, accompanied by a rear seat, an ode to comfort and singularity. The cabin's finery unfurls into a bespoke weekend bag compartment, a clever reincarnation of a fuel tank, now guarded by a lockable latch.
In a sublime fusion of the ages, the supercharger bows in reverence, now transformed into the charging port, linking with Type 1 or Type 2 sockets. The indomitable Bentley mesh grille, nestled around the charging portal, gleams with the regal patina of nickel-plated radiance. The dashboard, swathed in Engine Turned Aluminium, evokes the very spirit of the original. The fuel pressure pump emerges as a crafty chameleon, morphing into the drive mode selector, offering Comfort (2 kW), Bentley (8 kW), or Sport (15 kW) modes.
Enhancing the sanctum of the cabin, the headlights and indicators resurrect the magneto switches of Team Car legend, while the battery charge gauge bows to the original ammeter. Discreet USB charging points nestle in hidden nooks, a dual-function display assumes the guise of a Garmin satellite navigation screen, and a reversing camera keeps the past and present in perfect harmony.
The inaugural 99 'Blower Jnr' vehicles embark as First Edition Models, resplendent with First Edition insignias, engraved '1 of 99' plaques, and a beguiling Blower Green livery. The hallowed Union flag, lovingly hand-painted, adorns the body's flanks, as Dark Green Lustrana Hide encircles the interior, reminiscent of the Blower Continuation Series. A rope-wrapped steering wheel conjures nostalgia, while the side panels and radiator proudly don period-correct racing numbers.
The legacy of the supercharged 4½-litre 'Blower' Bentley is embroidered with the threads of speed and influence. Though it may not have seized endurance race laurels, it emerged as the epoch's apex, leaving rival British sports cars in its dust. The Blower Bentley found a confidant in author Ian Fleming, who envisioned his clandestine protagonist, James Bond, manoeuvring a supercharged 4½-litre Bentley, relegating others to mere "pool cars" for MI6.
The Blower Bentleys trace their lineage to Sir Tim Birkin, the racing luminary and fervent Bentley devotee. Birkin championed the Roots-type supercharger, a brainchild of British engineer Amherst Villiers, elevating the 4½-litre's power from 130 bhp to a titanic 240 bhp in racing guise. This innovation bore fruit in 55 supercharged 4½-litre Bentleys, with five ordained for competitive glory. 'Blower Jnr' channels its spirit from the second of Birkin & Co's 'Team' cars, the UU 5872, a bold contender at the 1930 Le Mans 24 Hours.
A sympathetic rejuvenation in the 1960s breathed new life into Team Car No. 2, preserving its timeless allure. Since 2000, under Bentley Motors' benevolent wing, it has been the subject of tender cosmetic care, gracing modern events like the Mille Miglia, Le Mans races, and esteemed congregations such as the Goodwood Festival of Speed and Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
The indomitable spirit of Team Car No. 2 ushered forth a limited series of twelve Continuation Cars, hand-woven by the skilled artisans of Mulliner Classic. This Blower Continuation Series, a paragon of fidelity to the original, paved the way for a second Continuation Series featuring twelve Bentley Speed Six models, currently germinating in the hallowed halls of tradition.
'Blower Jnr' stands poised to enthral the disciples of the automotive artistry, unfurling its grandeur during the Monterey Car Week, where it shall be unveiled to a select assemblage of 100 VIPs. Production, a siren's call to connoisseurs, is poised to commence in the second quarter of 2024, beginning with the release of the 99 First Edition models. In this extraordinary creation, we behold a symphony of classic heritage and modern innovation, an ode to Bentley's regal lineage, a living testament to the fusion of past and future.
