1931 Bentley 4½-Litre Supercharged Vanden Plas Le Mans-style Replica
Registration no. KR 6157
Chassis no. XT3628
Engine no. XT3628

W O Bentley proudly debuted the new 3-litre car bearing his name on Stand 126 at the 1919 Olympia Motor Exhibition, the prototype engine having fired up for the first time just a few weeks earlier. In only mildly developed form, this was the model which was to become a legend in motor racing history and which, with its leather-strapped bonnet, classical radiator design and British Racing Green livery has become the archetypal vintage sports car.

Early success in the 1922 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy, when Bentleys finished second, fourth and fifth to take the Team Prize, led to the introduction of the TT Replica (later known as the Speed Model). However, by the middle of the decade the 3-Litre's competitiveness was on the wane and this, together with the fact that too many customers had been tempted to fit unsuitably heavy coachwork to the excellent 3-Litre chassis rather than accept the expense and complexity of Bentley's 6½-Litre 'Silent Six', led to the introduction of the '4½'.

The new 4½-Litre model effectively employed the chassis, transmission and brakes of the 3-Litre, combined with an engine that was in essence two-thirds of the six-cylinder 6½-litre unit. Thus the new four-cylinder motor retained the six's 100x140mm bore/stroke and Bentley's familiar four-valves-per-cylinder fixed-'head architecture, but reverted to the front-end vertical camshaft drive of the 3-Litre. Bentley Motors lost no time in race-proving its new car. It is believed that the first prototype engine went into the 3-Litre chassis of the 1927 Le Mans practice car. Subsequently this same engine was fitted to the first production 4½-Litre chassis for that year's Grand Prix d'Endurance at the Sarthe circuit.

The original 4½-Litre car, nicknamed by the team 'Old Mother Gun' and driven by Frank Clement and Leslie Callingham, promptly set the fastest race lap of 73.41mph before being eliminated in the infamous 'White House Crash' multiple pile-up.

The 4½-Litre was produced for four years, all but 10 of the 667 cars being built on the 3-Litre's 'Long Standard', 10' 10½"-wheelbase chassis. Purchasers of the 4½-Litre model were, in common with those of all Vintage-period Bentleys, free to specify their preferences from a very considerable range of mechanical and electrical equipment, in addition to whatever body style and coachbuilder might be required.

This 4½-Litre Bentley is one of 657 built on the long (10' 10½") chassis. 'XT3628' is one of the 11 'XT' series cars, which was the final batch to leave the Cricklewood factory. The last chassis by number was 'XT3637'. These cars featured the heavy-crank engine as used in the 'Blower', coupled to the C-type gearbox driving through the rear axle of 15/53 ratio; in addition the late-type front axle with jacking pad was fitted.

Carrying saloon coachwork by Wylder & Co of Kew, Surrey, 'XT3628' was delivered new to one S J Brice of Rochester. The car was registered with the Bentley Drivers' Club in 1946, by which time Vanden Plas open coachwork had replaced the original two-door saloon body. Several owners are noted by the BDC before the car disappeared in 1956 after being sold by its then owner, Guy Makin of Whalley, Lancashire. The Bentley subsequently went to Canada.

When 'XT3628' returned to the UK from Alberta in the 1990s it was still a very original car, albeit with a later touring body, and was acquired at auction in 1996 by George Dodds and Bill Sykes. The Bentley subsequently passed to Malcolm Bishop, who would undertake this painstaking replica to his exacting standards. Much work was carried out by Clive Oliver, George Dodds and Dennis Keen over a period of more than five years. A John Bentley replica Amherst Villiers MkIV supercharger is fitted, the front and second cross members being replaced to accommodate it.

Stamped 'XT3628', the front axle is believed original; likewise the 13/39-ratio rear axle, which is believed to be numbered 'LB2330', making this virtually a matching-numbers car. There are notes on file to indicate a period crankshaft has been fitted and suggestions that the gearbox is original, although it is difficult to discern the number.

Green livery both fabric and metal plus green trim and carpets. The Bentley is finished in classic green livery with matching leather-trimmed interior, the latter boasting full instrumentation. Built with exacting attention to detail, and looking fabulous, this superb Le Mans-style replica is worthy of the closest inspection. Offered with a photocopy history file and current V5C document.