We are currently experiencing a time in which a wide variety of vehicles are being reinterpreted in retro design or appearing on the market as restomods. Hedley Studios from Bicester (north of Oxford), formerly known as the “Little Car Company”, aims to bring iconic vehicles onto the road as licensed products on a (usually) smaller scale.
What is it all about
Since 2013, the small vehicles have been tinkered with, modified and further developed in a WW2 RAF base. Once marketed more as a large toy in the form of an art and collector's item, Hedley Studios now wants to take a new approach. Because the vehicle presented here should actually be homologated for road use!
The 1927 4 1/2L supercharged Bentley Blower enjoys great cult and collector status. A perfect starting point to underline this image with a new edition. The small car has rigid axles, leaf springs and friction shock absorbers like the original.
Seven prototypes are currently in various stages of development for homologation and development. The vehicle shown is number 2 and is almost ready for series production which is about to start in January 2025. Approximately 3 vehicles will then be built per week, each in teams of two technicians. The “First Edition”, painted in the classic “British Racing Green”, will be produced in 99 units and is already sold out. However, it is planned that further vehicles will be produced after this. However, the green color is reserved for the “First Edition”.
First impressions
Is it a car or a toy? Neither of the two! A drivable work of art hits the nail on the head. The seemingly perfectly restored classic car will certainly not be recognized as a new car by a layman. And this is precisely the crux of the matter, because the Blower Junior is constantly earning delighted faces, waving hands and thumbs up. It spreads joy and fascination. A closer look reveals that many details have been cleverly used. For example, the gearshift on the outside right is now the handbrake. The compressor at the front now functions as a charging socket for the battery. The Easter Eggs are continued in the interior. The instruments are reminiscent of the original and are beautifully finished to a high standard. The fenders and hood are made of sheet aluminum, which is driven into the correct shape by craftsmen using wooden blocks. Just like the original back then. Even the radiator at the front is built by hand.
It is striking that the Bentley, which has been shrunk by 15% from the original, is a two-seater and the two passengers sit one behind the other. Speaking of the seats: the leather upholstery feels very much like Connolly leather (connoisseurs will know what I'm talking about). The feel conveys high quality and robustness and is from the same supplier as the Bentley Continuation models. In general, the entire construction looks pretty tight. The Bentley logo on the radiator even comes from the car manufacturer itself.
Road test
In the driving position, the Bentley feels like a high buggy. A central seating position and free-standing wheels are rarely seen from the driver's perspective. Seat belt fastened, system raised, selector lever left to “Drive” and off you go.
Let's hit the road! Equipped with a 48V electric powertrain that has a power output of 15kW (short peak of 30kW). Modest figures at first glance, but the Bentley accelerates faster than expected. From a Swiss perspective, however, the top speed of 72kph is modest, which still counts as an obstacle on country roads even though the speed feels much faster. This aside, the Bentley can be driven surprisingly smoothly around bends despite its narrow tires. And this despite the decent weight of 550 kg without passengers, of which the battery takes up 96 kg. The carbon tub only helps to a limited extent. However, thanks to the battery located in the underbody, the handling is pretty good and the steering is pretty direct. Thanks to the 10.8 kWh battery, the manufacturer promises a range of 100 kilometers. If you believe this claim and extrapolate the weight to that of a small electric car, it quickly becomes clear that the Bentley is a sipper and likes being similar to the original.
Instead of “More power, baby!” probably “More electricity, baby!”. The power consumption is around two to three times as high as that of an economical electric car. This is because recuperation only works through the drag torque and not via the brake pedal. This means a lot of energy can get lost. So if you drive with foresight, you will make more progress.
Charging takes around 13 hours at a regular domestic socket. At the charging station, between four and six hours.
In Switzerland, the small "Blower" is sold as a quad. Now the question arises as to whether the car can even be driven with a motorcycle test. Some features, such as the L7e road approval, are reminiscent of the Microlino or the Renault Twizy. The utility value should also be similar, i.e. typical commuter or excursion trips in the immediate vicinity.
Or you could simply be cool enough to display this artwork in your living room.
What now?
Of course, every small edition has its price. Here we are talking about around 125,000 Swiss francs. A tidy sum, but one that can somehow be put into perspective with the Bentley's inventive and development spirit as well thie attention to detail. However, the usability is rather limited. In my view, the little Blower is more of a nice accessory to an existing Bentley from the 1920s, provided you are in the fortunate position of being able to own one and money plays a rather secondary role.
Last but not least, I would like to thank Schmohl Exclusive Cars and Hedley Studios for the cooperation and the opportunity to get to know and experience one of the seven existing prototypes of the Bentley Blower Jnr.
Photos & Review by RPM | Robin P.M.
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