This Bentley Turner Supercharged Special, year 1936, is one of the so called "Derby cars". This supercharged special was built by "Rusty" Russ Turner around the year 1960.
This car came out of the Bentley factory in the year 1936 with one of the fine Park Ward bodies. Russ Turner purchased the car in 1958 with 75.000 miles behind it's wheels.
During 1959 the entire car was stripped and was going to be rebuilt as a two seater sports racing car. The chassis was shortened, a new body was designed by Turner himself and built by Caffyns & Co. of Kent & Sussex located in Worthing. The body was made of aluminum on a hardwood frame. Also a new two seater interior was created with a nice green/ red color scheme. The dashboard remained original, only two blower pressure gauges were added.
Mechanically and technically a lot was changed and tuned to make this Bentley a true winner...

Technical changes/ improvements:

• The wheels were rebuilt to 16";
• Engine: All bearings were changed by special racing
  types with steel-backed shells and the mains were finished with special racing metal;
  Big end shells were also finished with special racing metal;
  Compression ratio was increased to 7:1;
  Cam roller and followers were changed by ones with a larger diameter;
  The flywheel was lightened and thee whole engine balanced;
  Heavier clutch springs were fitted;
  Two low pressure Arnott superchargers were fitted as were two oversized Arnott carburettors;
  Twin double SU petrol pumps were fitted;
  Swept inlet manifold was fitted;
  Derrington swept exhaust was fitted with servais box;
  Two Kenlowe electric fans were fitted;
  Special finned oil cooler was fitted;
• Gearbox was replaced with an overdrive gearbox fitted with special heavy selector springs to hold the gears in place during hill-climbs;
• Brakes and servo relined with Mintex linings;
• Springing was adjusted because of the lighter weight;
  Anti tramp-bars fitted to the live rear axle with additional dampers.

Technical data

Six cylinder OHV engine
cylinder capacity: 4257 cc.
Twin Arnott blowers, twin Arnott carburettors, twin double SU fuel pumps
capacity: approx. 270 bhp.
top-speed: approx. 140 mph. - approx. 220 km/h.

Wins & successes (selection)

Derby Crewe Trophy (three years running)
Tim Birkin trophy
Keston Pelmore Trophy
Christopher Tomkinson Trophy
Brighton Speed Trials (Fastest Bentley)
Firle Hill Climb (Fastest Bentley)
Brighton 1967 (fastest lap, Turner driving)
Silverstone 1970 (fastest lap, Turner driving).

Information sources

The information above is largely taken from the book "Bentley Specials & Special Bentleys" written by Ray Robberts.
Some information is shortened or less specific than the original, other information is added by the cars owner, Altena and by ClassicarImages. Everyone who has additional historic information on this car please feel free
to contact us .