Two Blower Bentleys Taking on Mille Miglia

BentleyBentleyUnited Kingdom, 1919 > present37 models
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has two 1930 4.5-litre superchargedBentley 4½ Litre 'Blower...United Kingdom, 1929 > present1 photo
cars ready to take on the Mille Miglia historic rally. One car actually raced in the 24 Hours of Le Mans that year, and the other has a very rare body. 

The #2 car was driven by Captain Tim Birkin in the 1930 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the car returned to Bentley's hands in 2000 when it bought the car. The car had a mid-race duel with Rudolf Caracciola in a 7.1-liter supercharged Mercedes SSMercedes-Benz 700 - 27/14...Germany, 1927 > 1928. Caracciola. The MercedesMercedes-BenzGermany, 1924 > present197 models
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retired 85 laps into the race, but Birkin's Bentley did not finish either. He retired 138 laps into the race. The winning car that year was a Bentley Speed SixBentley Speed 6United Kingdom, 1928 > present1 photo
that did 179 laps. 

“This is a fantastic car to drive and remains extremely rapid as well. We take great pride in making sure all the cars Bentley owns continue to regularly compete or run and are not museum exhibits, which is very much the Bentley way, and we are all looking forward to the unique Mille Miglia experience," said Richard Charlesworth, Bentley's head of VIP relations. 

The other car has a Vanden Plas Open, Sports Four SeaterBentley 4 ½-litre BlowerUnited Kingdom, 1930 > 19301 photo
body that was used a customer demonstrator and press car. Bentley purchased the car back in 1997.

“There are currently over 100,000 miles on this elegant Blower Bentley but we’re certain it has completed many more than this,” said Charlesworth.

The Mille Miglia classic rally runs from May 16 to 19.