Hedley Studios has built a Bentley Blower Jnr using leather that spent nearly two centuries at the bottom of Plymouth Sound. A one-off electric vehicle, created in partnership with London bespoke shoemaker George Cleverley, features reindeer hide salvaged from the Metta Catharina shipwreck of 1786, the same material used to make shoes for King Charles III.
Pairing two British companies known for working with traditional techniques, this collaboration brings together Hedley Studios, which produces luxury electric reinterpretations of vintage cars, and George Cleverley, maker of bespoke footwear since 1958. Their joint project debuts this month at a private event in Scotland.
The material has a history worth understanding. In 1786, the brigantine Metta Catharina was sailing from St. Petersburg to Genoa carrying hemp and hides when a winter storm drove it onto the seabed of Plymouth Sound. The crew survived, but the ship and its cargo sank. The wreck remained undiscovered until 1973, when local divers found bundles of reindeer hides still intact, preserved by cold black mud that kept seawater and air away from the leather.
These hides were examples of Russian leather, tanned using centuries-old methods with willow bark and birch oil. The process gave the material its distinctive cross-hatched grain, deep mahogany color, and sweet aroma. In the 18th century, this was considered the finest leather available, supple, durable, water-resistant, and naturally insect-repellent. The production methods were so closely guarded that European tanneries sent spies to St. Petersburg in failed attempts to replicate them.
Permission for salvage came from the Prince of Wales, now King Charles III. George Cleverley secured a portion of the recovered hides, which have remained in private reserve since then. Never publicly advertised, they are released only for exclusive commissions, including shoes made for King Charles III, which he continues to wear.
George Glasgow Jnr., CEO of George Cleverley, said, “This collaboration represents something truly extraordinary – not just the marriage of two British craft traditions, but the use of some of our final remaining pieces of Russian reindeer leather from the Metta Catharina. When we commit this historic material to a project, it must be worthy of its provenance. Working with Hedley Studios to create this one-of-a-kind Blower Jnr felt like the perfect tribute to both Bentley’s racing heritage and the remarkable story of these 239-year-old hides. Once this leather is gone, it’s gone forever – there will never be another project quite like this.”
For this Bentley Blower Jnr, the historic reindeer hide appears on the hand-stitched steering wheel and seatbelt covers. Stitching was completed at George Cleverley’s Old Bond Street atelier before final assembly at Hedley Studios’ Bicester facility. Koa wood, a rare Hawaiian hardwood historically used in surfboards, finishes the dashboard. Custom treadplates and hand-stitched accents use full-grain Tuscan leather.
Claret paint with a Mulberry Everflex finish covers the exterior, chosen to complement the interior materials. A bespoke nameplate reads “GC 1 of 1,” while the front grille displays the number 86, a reference to 1786, the year the leather was lost to the sea.
Power comes from a 15 kW electric motor driven by a 10.8 kWh battery, delivering approximately 65 miles of range with a recharge time of three to five hours. Fully road legal, it is classified as an L7e quadricycle in the UK and EU and as an LSV in the USA.
Ben Hedley, Founder and CEO of Hedley Studios, said: “The Blower Jnr has always been about reimagining Bentley’s most iconic racing car in a way that makes it both usable and evocative. This collaboration with George Cleverley has taken that philosophy to another level. Seeing the unique craftsmanship processes at their Old Bond Street workshop first-hand has been extraordinary for all of us at Hedley Studios, and the use of this historic hide with such remarkable history reflects the shared dedication to traditional methods and enduring craftsmanship that unites our two houses. The result is a car that doesn’t just celebrate Bentley’s past, but also showcases the very best of British artisanal skill today.”
The Bentley Blower Jnr is based on the 1929 Bentley Blower, a supercharged racing car that became one of the most recognizable vehicles in British motorsport history. Hedley Studios launched its electric miniature version in partnership with Bentley Motors in 2020, offering customers a scaled-down, road-legal interpretation of the original. Each Blower Jnr is hand-built and can be customized, with prices starting around £90,000.
The company has previously created bespoke versions featuring unique materials and finishes, but this George Cleverley collaboration represents the first time Hedley Studios has worked with a material of this historical significance. Given the finite supply of the Metta Catharina leather, George Cleverley’s remaining stock is limited and cannot be replaced, this vehicle will remain a true one-off in the Blower Jnr lineup.
