Big British classics don’t come much finer than the Bentley 8 Litre. Introduced at the London Olympia Motor Show in September 1930, the car was noted for being ‘dead silent’ at 100mph, in the words of the founder and designer W O Bentley.
The 8 Litre was Bentley’s largest and most luxurious grand tourer to date in 1930, with a power output of between 200-230bhp. But the timing of its launch, at the beginning of the financial crisis after the Wall Street Crash, would see only 100 models produced between 1930-1932. After 1931, Bentley Motors was placed into receivership before it was purchased by Rolls Royce. The cost of producing such a land yacht, particularly in a time of economic recession, had proved too much for the iconic British brand.
The first 8 Litre off the production line went to music hall star ‘Gentleman’ Jack Buchanan in October 1930. W O Bentley took ownership of the second and used it to travel thousands of miles all over Britain and Europe. He once boasted that he’d driven the 8 Litre from Dieppe to Cannes in a day, without having to switch the lights on – a challenge even by today’s standards.
This particular model, extensively reworked into a sporting two-seater from its original ‘Limousine’ bodywork in the 1960s, comes with a fine racing pedigree but also fitted, Louis Vuitton luggage. Clocking 133mph in the Brighton Speed Trials in 1968, the car went on to win more silverware in both Belgium and Jersey.
Guide Price: £800,000 – £1,000,000
This car is for sale as part of the Medcalf Collection, West Sussex. Click here for more details.
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