Bentley is celebrating a spectacular return of the 1929 racing car classic with the Blower Junior. However, two things are fundamentally different.
(Source: Bentley)
Darling, I shrunk a classic: Bentley is bringing back the “Blower” racing car (1927 to 1931), which once boasted a 4 1/2 liter engine. The new version is called the Blower Junior—and for good reason: It is only 85 percent the size of the original. Additionally, the Blower Junior is electric.
The mini Bentley is being manufactured by Hedley Studios, a company specializing in the production of scaled-down cars. The Blower Junior is road-legal and, at 550 kilograms, falls under the EU-wide L7e vehicle category for light quadricycles. Vehicles in this class do not need to meet certain regulations, such as the requirement for airbags or specific assistance systems.
Due to its classification, the 3.70-meter-long electric racer is limited to a top speed of 72 km/h, which is probably all the 15 kW (20 PS) motor could manage anyway. With a 10.8 kWh motor at the rear axle, the small Bentley is expected to have a range of about 100 kilometers with two passengers.
The Blower Junior is handcrafted in the United Kingdom. Unlike the original, the rear part of the body is not made of an ash wood frame but of lightweight carbon fiber covered with impregnated fabric. However, the tradition continues with the hood, which is made of aluminum and secured with leather straps. The leaf springs and shock absorbers are also closely modeled after the late 1920s to replicate the driving feel of that era.
The Hedley Studios, however, do not take risks with the brakes—Brembo brakes are installed at the front, while drum brakes are fitted at the rear.
With its electric motor, the ammeter on the dashboard now shows the battery’s charge level, and forward and reverse gears are selectable via the ignition switch. Additionally, three driving modes (Comfort, Bentley, Sport) are available, each with different power levels. There is also a USB port and a screen for navigation and the rearview camera. Where the fuel tank once was, there is now space for a travel bag.
Even though it is a miniature version, the Blower Junior remains a Bentley. Accordingly, the price exceeds 100,000 euros, and the first edition (99 units) of the 349 total classic racers is already sold out.
