Rear view of a 2003 Bentley litre Supercharged Peterson Racer on show at the London Classic Car Show
Built in 2003 By renowned builder Bob Petersen. This Bentley Racer is about as "in your face" as they come. The engine is a 6½-litre straight eight, a unit belonging to the B-series of engines developed towards the end of WW2 for military and commercial purposes. Maximum power output of a standard B81 was around 195bhp at 3,750rpm, though this particular unit, which is fed by a Petersen BM supercharger and red-lined at 5,500rpm, is estimated to produce in excess of 400bhp. Power is transmitted via a Salisbury limited-slip differential to the 84-spoke 19" wheels, which are shod with 700x19 Dunlop racing tyres. This coupled with a light body weight makes for electrifying performance. The basis for the car is a Bentley R type chassis from 1953. The chassis is clad with a muscular aluminium body with bulges louvres & air scoops wherever you look. Accommodation is for two on black leather Bentley style bucket seats. The dash is of machine turned aluminium & contains the usual quotient of instruments including a large rev counter & 170mph calibrated speedometer. The odometer is showing 4000 miles since build was completed. The current owner, upon purchase sent the car Back to Bob Petersen to be fully gone through & bought up to the latest spec. Bills for this work totaling £23,000 are on file with the car. The car is part of a small collection of exceptional mostly Bentley motor cars & has been maintained without regard to cost. Despite being a real road burner & hooligans toy, the car may also be driven quite sedately & only shows its full potential when pressing the accelerator hard. It needless to say attracts more crowds when stopped then any other car I have driven. Suffice to say, the faint of heart ought not to apply. A detachable cowl covers over the passenger seat for solo operation. There is also a decent storage compartment in the rear of the car.
Size: 4752px × 3744px
Location: ExCeL London, One Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London, E16 1XL
Photo credit: © John Gaffen 2 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: , 2003, 6½-litre, bentley, bob, litre, petersen, peterson, racer, rear, straight, supercharged, view
