Yahoo Autos Driving a Bentley Blower Is a Joyful Challenge
A 1930 Bentley Blower has three pedals and a steering wheel like any modern manual-transmission car, but don't expect a modern driving experience. The Bentley offers huge power, but not much brake, and an unsynchronized gearbox, so you'll really have to know what you're doing. Oh, and you've got to keep an eye on the two supercharger oil feeders, which are mounted in the cockpit.
That supercharger causes all sorts of problems for handling too, since it adds a ton of weight ahead of the front axle. A Bentley Blower therefore tends to understeer, and it favors high-speed corners a lot more than slower stuff.
But, the Blower is genuinely quick, and as Motor Sport's Andrew Frankel finds out, a ton of fun to drive. Driven well, this Bentley Blower could probably keep up with a Volkswagen GTI today, which is pretty incredible for a car from 1930.
This particular Blower is very special too. It was raced at Le Mans by Sir Henry "Tim" Birkin, one of the original, legendary "Bentley Boys." Birkin was the guy who originally convinced Bentley to fit superchargers to its cars, and helped the brand become a legend. It never won Le Mans, but it's still about as special as a Bentley can get.
So, driving a Bentley Blower is challenging, but so rewarding.
Flash back to Bentley's most recent Le Mans winner
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