SOUTH KINGSTOWN Bill Johnson, 61, drives past the stately rhododendron that line his winding driveway. His green 1927 4½-liter Bentley muscles past me like a horse ready to run.

Author Irving Robbin describes Bentleys this way: Following World War I, W.O. Bentley and his brother, H.M. Bentley decided to build a car that would completely satisfy him. Bentley cars would be reliable, solidly built, docile at a city-street pace but would be capable of brutal acceleration and savage speed.

The brothers were interested in racing and were successful with their cars, winning at Le Mans, in France, 1928, 1929 and 1930.

The early history of Bill’s car is little known, although Johnson says it was once used by a lion tamer in a circus in Europe to tow the lion cages from town to town.

Bill’s dad, William R. Johnson, bought the car from a Mr. Allan Elliot, in England. In 1963, William Johnson had the car shipped to Boston. It arrived in a wooden crate at the docks. They uncrated it on the spot, added fluids and drove it back to Rhode Island, with young Bill riding in it with a huge smile. William showed a lot of courage when he allowed his son to drive his “pride and joy” when Bill was 16, much to his delight.

The Bentley has had plenty of use over the years, with trips throughout New England. When Bill’s dad wasn’t able to drive the Bentley any more he would follow it in another car. “He always liked to see it running,” said Bill. William passed away in 1988, but he shared a passion for life and automobiles with his son.