Make it stand out.

Hubert Haderthauer

A fine 1:8 scale limited edition model of a 1930 4½ Litre Bentley by Sapor Modelltechnik of Germany in 1998

A finely detailed working and driving model of the Bentley 'UU 5872', finished in British Racing Green lacquered paintwork, of a believed 25 examples produced, constructed from approximately 4,000 individual steel, brass, aluminium and wooden parts, pressed metal bodywork with leather covering and chromed brightwork, detailed dashboard and cock-pit with leather upholstery, latched doors and bonnet opening to reveal white metal engine compartment, with functioning external handbrake, foot pedals and clutch operating forward and reverse gears, brake drums, suspension and rolling wire-spoked wheels with rubber tyres, working lights and horn, and other details, the features including prop-shaft powered by an electric motor secreted in the engine bay, the model measuring  just a shade under 2 feet/58cm long and displayed on raised supports above a mirrored wooden display base with title plaque.

Birkin was described as “the greatest Briton of his time” by his friend, company founder W.O. Bentley, but the two men didn’t agree on everything. Bentley never accepted the idea of supercharging, preferring to increase displacement instead, and could not be convinced otherwise. But such was Birkin’s conviction, that he decided to engineer the project himself - so as the factory team developed a new 6½ litre, he set to work on a supercharger installation using a unit developed by British engineer Amherst Villiers.

Both projects were based on the Bentley Speed Six, a car memorably described as ‘the fastest lorry in the world’ by Ettore Bugatti. Birkin’s blower boosted power from 130bhp to 240bhp in race tune; enough to propel him to a record 137 mph over the rutted track of Brooklands. You’d imagine the experience to be enough to loosen Sir ‘Tim’s trademark silk neckerchief.  This Bentley then raced at the 1930 Le Mans.