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Along with the 'AIRFIX' 12th scale model, the Matchbox model is one of the most well known models of a Bentley 'Blower'. The original car this is based on has a chequered history, originally a standard 4.5Ltr car, it became the 'Prototype' for the 'Supercharged' version.

The picture above shows the final look of the car, as it was modified from it's original look of a 3Ltr car (the Corgi Toys model, #900), into what was the look of the 'Le Mans' team cars and it is in this form that the Lesney 'Models of Yesteryear' version was based on. Lesney decided to have the race number '5' on the side of their model, but as the above picture from the early Sixties shows, it does not display a race number.

The picture below from a 1972 published book, shows the car in British Racing Green and you can see why the Bentley Driver's Club contacted Lesney to complain about the colour of the model and ask them to repaint the model in a more accurate colour.
GHOSTHUNTER.

Kevin, I once saw one in a garage but in all over red. Do you know of this one at all

Moyboy wrote:Kevin, I once saw one in a garage but in all over red. Do you know of this one at all

That would look spectacular in red (even if not "correct"!).

Cheers,
Gavin

Moyboy wrote:Kevin, I once saw one in a garage but in all over red. Do you know of this one at all

No Mick I do not and I expect it was a replica in the sense that it was probably a 4.5 Ltr car with a 'Supercharger' added and built to look like a Le Mans car. It is a well known fact among Bentley enthusiasts that there are more 'Blower' Bentley cars in existance than were actually built...!

GHOSTHUNTER.

Hey Ghosty why was it called the 'Blower'?

To many, the Bentley is the quintessential vintage sports car, and no vintage Bentley is as well known as the 'Blower', so called due to the large, crankshaft driven 'Supercharger', or in the language of the time, 'Blower', used to generate additional horsepower.

When actually running the 'Supercharger' car had a certain sound to it, distinctly different to the normal 4.5Ltr car, sounding like some sort of mechanical blowing machine and the term 'Blower' came to be used in conversation when talking about the car.

5 'Blower' LeMans team cars were built by Tim Birkin's garage and engineers in Welwyn Garden City, but to allow the cars to run in LeMans, they had to prove a version of the car could be ordered by the general public from showrooms, so the Bentley car company which was the responsibility of Walter Owen Bentley, had to build 50 cars, all fitted with the 'Supercharger' installation, but many were ordered with heavy saloon bodywork or open touring bodywork, some of these cars in recent times been converted into look-a-like LeMans cars.

GHOSTHUNTER.

I think the term "blown" is still used to describe a supercharged engine in hotrod circle's

Thanks for the explanation Kevin. Very informative as usual!!

I have the same 'photo as framed print!
Wondered where it came from.
(sorry about the size, don't know how to reduce this)

Rod