134148 / 1928 Bentley 4 1/2 Litre Semi-Le Mans Sports Tourer

You know that old saying "There's no replacement for displacement"? Contrary to popular belief, it wasn't coined by some nitro junkie who piloted a blown Hemi down a quarter mile drag strip. It was instead the mantra for one of the world's premiere luxury and performance car builders, and in a lot of ways, it continues to characterize the spirit of the now 94 year old Bentley Motor Company. Not only were Bentley's initial offerings envisioned as luxury coaches, they were also purposed as rugged performance cars that could win just about any race they entered. And this 1928 Semi-Le Mans Sports Tourer, chassis number MF3153, is a literal embodiment of everything the brand stands for!

This 4.5 Litre Tourer began its life in Buenos Aires only to return to the UK and long term service under Bentley enthusiast Gerald Bevan. Bevan, himself a competition driver, had close ties to factory team driver and Bentley Boy Sir Henry Birkin; a man whose company would eventually develop the famed Blower Bentleys. And, as you probably guessed, MF3153 underwent a series of Le Mans spec upgrades that included a heavy duty crank, a magnesium blower crankcase, a large capacity Le Mans petrol tank, a large diameter rev counter and many other authentic features that are still present to this day. As a wonderfully preserved piece of history, the car would remain stabled with Bevan for a number of years. Through the sands of generations, it eventually found its way to Bentley experts Richard Cresswell, Graham Moss and Tim Houlding for a complete restoration. And a few years ago, it once again tasted victory by taking Best of Show at the 2005 Bentley Drivers Club Concours.

The storied Bentley 4.5 litre under this car's dark green bonnet, factory coded as engine SM3905, was designed to fill a void left by Bentley's 3 Litre and 6.5 Litre variants. On one end of the spectrum, the brand's older 3 Litre, increasingly weighted by an ever-changing roster of Le Mans add-ons, began to suffer underperformance. On the other end of the spectrum, the brand's 6.5 Litre was, in the hands of a novice driver, exceedingly unsafe as its power combined with notoriously poor road conditions to cause quick tire failure. The solution was this chassis; a vehicle that had enough power to carry its occupants down the road at a good pace and harbored the ability to be a pretty mean track car. And with five outright victories in seven short years, Bentley set an absolute standard for a sports car capable of enduring a race as grueling as the 24 Hours of Le Mans! The 4.5 litre engine was resolutely modern for the time with a displacement of 4,398cc, a 100mm bore and a 140mm stroke. Two SU 'Sloper' Carburetors combine with dual ignition and a Bosch Magneto to produce roughly 130 horsepower in racing form. Max engine speed was limited to 4,000 RPM as a single overhead camshaft actuated four 30 degree valves per cylinder. And, as on the brand's 3.0 litre engine, this Tourer's camshaft is driven by bevel gears that are affixed to a vertical shaft at the front of the engine.

That gnarly engine is mated to a 4-speed Non-Synchromesh D-Type Gearbox which requires a very skilled pilot. That tough-as-nails transmission is bolted into a robust, latticed chassis that's an absolute necessity for the car's the heavy, cast iron engine. Vintage racecar handling is achieved through a semi-elliptical leaf spring suspension that's equipped with friction plate shock absorbers and leather leaf covers. Braking is supplied by 17 inch rod-operated drums that are finned for cooling purposes. All this old school track prowess rides on four 21 inch Rudge-Whitworth wheels and a fresh set of equally impressive 5.25/6.00 Blockley tyres. And although this awesome Bentley is big and heavy by today's standards, it was considered a nimble and well-balanced track companion back in 1928.

It's incredibly rare to find a vintage racer that's as complete as this pedigreed Bentley. Look for this 4.5 Litre Semi-Le Mans Sports Tourer on display in our 80,000 square foot RK Motors Charlotte showroom!

[timcolledge]

The blown 4 1/2 litre was never successful, and W O Bentley was dead against it. The project contributed to Bentley being taken over by Rolls Royce in 1931.

[tonyclough]

Please remember to wear safety specks when driving cars with screen down and even with screen up
A bee or any large insect will take your eye out