The U.Ok.’s Little Automotive Firm has added the long-lasting Bentley Blower to its rising record of scaled-down replicas.
Unveiled on Thursday throughout 2023 Monterey Automotive Week, the most recent duplicate is roughly 85% the dimensions of the unique supercharged 4.5-liter inline-4 Bentley of 1929, although it would not run on gasoline.
As an alternative it depends on a 20-hp electrical motor to cart it round, with Little Automotive Firm quoting a spread of 65 miles and a prime pace of 45 mph. The corporate additionally claims the duplicate, dubbed the Blower Jnr, is street-legal within the U.S. however with its prime pace capped at 25 mph because of rules.
Two folks can sit within the automobile, in a tandem place, and there is even a devoted area for baggage.
Little Automotive Firm Bentley Blower Jnr
The unique Blowers, nicknamed due to the supercharger the vehicles used, was made well-known by Henry Ralph Stanley “Tim” Birkin, who raced one throughout Europe within the Twenties and early ’30s, together with within the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
To make sure authenticity, Little Automotive Firm labored intently with Bentley’s heritage division to make sure the design and supplies match the unique. The job was made simpler as Bentley itself created a continuation sequence of the unique Blower just a few years in the past and had all the required scans and detailed drawings on file.
For the Blower Jnr, many of the development was achieved by hand. Specs embody a metal body, a leaf-spring suspension, and even scaled-down, period-correct friction dampers. Some trendy parts are used, corresponding to Brembo brakes and the aforementioned electrical powertrain. Carbon fiber can be used for the rear fame as a substitute of wooden like the unique, although a cloth cowl is used, which was additionally the case for the unique.
Little Automotive Firm Bentley Blower Jnr
For the sprint, there’s engine-turned detailing, similar to the unique. Nonetheless, as a substitute of the unique gasoline strain pump, the duplicate has a drive mode selector. Gear choice is dealt with by a lever that appears like the unique’s ignition advance management, whereas different switchgear, corresponding to for the lights and indicators, are all copies of the unique.
Little Automotive Firm plans to start out manufacturing within the second quarter of 2024. Pricing hasn’t been talked about.