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UK V5
See UK Registration/Import Status Guide in catalogue.

In little more than a decade, Bentley Motors Ltd. rose from a fledgling upstart to become one of England’s premier motorcar manufacturers – only to end up in receivership, absorbed in 1931 by rival firm Rolls-Royce.

Unveiled at the Olympia Motor Show in October 1930, the majestic Eight Litre was a development of the highly successful 6 1/2 Litre, which, in Speed Six form, had given Bentley two Le Mans victories. Designed to carry the most luxurious custom coachwork and perform with greater comfort, smoothness, and silence than any previous Bentley, the Eight Litre was based on a much stronger chassis, with deep frame rails, robust tubular crossmembers, a stiffened steering column, and other refinements such as a Tecalemit one-shot lubrication system. The car’s driveline was also developed with an eye toward refinement, featuring an all-new “F” type gearbox and a modern hypoid-bevel rear axle. Factory rated at 220 hp, the Eight Litre was capable of 100 mph, even while wearing formal coachwork.

Intentionally priced at £1,850, slightly more expensive than the new Rolls-Royce Phantom II, the Eight Litre was the largest and most expensive chassis manufactured in Great Britain in 1930. In the end, just 100 were built. The example offered here, chassis YX5123, stands as a rare and intriguing example of W.O. Bentley’s masterpiece.

At the foundation of this machine is the shorter of two Bentley chassis, featuring a 12' wheelbase. Of the 100 examples built, just 35 Eight Litres were specified with the shorter chassis, which was better suited to sporting coachwork. This Eight Litre was inspected in 2021 by the noted Bentley expert, historian, and author Dr. Clare Hay, whose indispensable report on file spells out the car’s history in incredible detail.

According to Dr. Hay’s report, when Bentley went into receivership on July 11, 1931, YX5123 was still a bare chassis at the factory, having yet to be sold or sent to a coachbuilder. An invoice from Jack Barclay Ltd. in London documents the sale of the Bentley to its first owner, Richard D. Winsloe of London. On January 14, 1932, the chassis was dispatched to H.J. Mulliner, making this Bentley one of the last to leave the company’s historic Cricklewood works.

The coachwork applied was as it appears today, a handsome convertible coupe with a top that disappears under a soft tonneau. The original colors were a light gray with black wings and running boards, gray leather, and black wheels. Bentley factory service logs show that the Eight Litre was regularly cared for, and the final mileage recorded was 46,113 in 1936.

As shown in a copy of the bill of sale on file, H.J. Thomas of Dorset, UK, bought the Bentley through Jack Barclay Ltd. in 1936 for £400. Mr. Thomas owned the Bristol Aeroplane Co., and this was his second Eight Litre, having already owned chassis YX5124. As he had done with his previous Bentley, Mr. Thomas made some detail changes to the Eight Litre, replacing the wings and building running boards that contained large toolboxes. Trafficators and wheel discs were also added, as were Zeiss headlamps. By 1948, Bentley Drivers Club rosters document YX5123 as being owned by G. Ratcliffe of Lancashire, UK, and in 1974 it was advertised in Motor Sport magazine by Peter Harper. The consignor’s family acquired this incredible Eight Litre in 1974, adding it to their collection of mostly English prewar classics. It has been preserved and enthusiastically used for 49 years in current ownership, attending numerous tours and club meetings.

Dr. Hay’s 2021 report details the level of authenticity the Bentley retains and explains that mechanical and drivetrain components are original to YX5123 except for the steering column, which was replaced sometime before 1936. Many of the interior finishes, including the seats, appear to be original to the car – clear evidence of the regard in which the Bentley was held over decades of use.

This regal Bentley retains many attributes of the greatest examples of the marque: open coachwork and a short chassis. Add to this its original drivetrain and frame, original bodywork from the esteemed H.J. Mulliner, many original interior fitments, and a well-documented provenance, and the sum is an Eight Litre that has few peers in a very elite club.