Bentley and The Little Car Company (LCC) have teamed up to create a street-legal, luxurious electric replica of the iconic 1929 Bentley Blower. This replica, called the Blower ‘Junior’, is an 85%-scale version that rivals the Citroën Ami.
LCC has developed the Blower Junior with full technical support from Bentley, marking the first road-legal car produced by LCC, which is based in Bicester.
The development of this replica has relied heavily on Bentley’s heritage fleet Blower Team Car No 2. The initial production run of 99 First Edition cars will closely match the specifications of the original model, including the same color scheme, Union flag motifs, and other details like doorplates.
Unlike the original Blower, which featured a 4.5-liter supercharged engine producing 240bhp and competed at Le Mans in 1930, the Blower Jr is powered by a more modest rear-mounted 48V electric motor that generates 20bhp.
The Blower Jr falls into the L7e quadricycle category, allowing it to reach a top speed of 45mph in the UK, with an estimated range of 65 miles. It is constructed in two sections, with the rear section using carbon fiber instead of the original’s ash wood. The batteries and electronics are housed in an undertray.
Measuring at 3700mm in length, the Blower Jr is comparable in size to a Hyundai i10, and it is 1500mm wide. The decision to create an 85% scale was made to ensure practicality and usability. Duncan Grey, LCC’s commercial chief, explained that the goal was to make a mini-Blower that could be used as an everyday vehicle.
Similar to the original Blower, the Junior version is a two-seater, adopting a tandem layout with the passenger seated behind the driver. To meet road-legal requirements, the Blower Jr is equipped with modern features such as Brembo disc brakes, seat belts, indicators, and lights.
The interior and dashboard of the Blower Jr closely resemble the original model, although there are some adjustments. The fuel pressure pump now serves as the drive mode selector, and the gear selector is based on the ignition advance control of the original. Additionally, the Blower Jr incorporates modern features like a USB charging port and a dual-function display with a built-in Garmin sat nav and reversing camera.
The Blower Jr First Edition is set to launch in 2024 with a price of £90,000 excluding VAT and shipping. Although significantly more expensive than the £7695 Citroën Ami, it remains a more affordable option compared to the original Blower, which is currently insured for £25 million by Bentley.
