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1931 Bentley 8 Litre    
Original 1932 Numbers
Chassis No. YM5040
Engine No. YM5040
Registration No. GC 2584

  This car - updated
Chassis No. YM5040
Engine No. -
Registration No. -

(Current owner / former owners, please come forward with further updates. - March 2018)
 
2006
In Switzerland in 2006 / Owned by a BDC member
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1931 Bentley 8 litre strip of 10 Mint Auto Stamps.

 
     
     
  Source: Unknown
Posted: Jul 28, 2008
 
     
 

This car has been identified as Chassis no. YM5040 by Olle Ljungström. — July 29, 2008

 
 
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  Source: Histomobile
Posted: Mar 04, 2009
 
     
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Bentley Drophead Coupe 1930.

 
     
     
  Source: In-Drive.ru
Posted: Jan 22, 2009
 
     
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  Source: Blackhawk Collection
Posted: Sep 18, 2006
 
     
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1931 Bentley 8 Litre.

 
     
     
  Source: Rob Williams
Posted: Nov 25, 2006
 
     
 

"Original Gill Allweather saloon was replaced and re-bodied as a HJ Mulliner body in 1934. Orig. owner was W K Vanderbilt. Reg. no. is CD 7679." — Matt Sysak, Dec 7, 2008

 
 
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1931 BENTLEY 8-LITER FOUR-DOOR SPORT SEDAN BODY BY H. J. H J Mulliner, LONDON

Chassis No. YM 5040. Motor, six-cylinder, overhead-camshaft, monobloc, bore 4 5/16th in.; stroke 5½ in.; piston displacement 492 cu. in. (8 liters): magneto and coil ignition: four-speed transmission, right-hand shift: spiral bevel final drive: service brake on four wheels, emergency brake on rear wheels: suspension half-elliptic front and rear: wheelbase 156 in.: tire size 7.00x21.

W. O. Bentley's last successful model to issue from the old Cricklewood factory (in the Fall of 1930) was the magnificent 8-liter, an overhead-cam six of a displacement bigger than all America's multi-barreled Classics. With closed bodywork it would attain 100 miles an hour; surprisingly, though, 63 of the one hundred chassis laid down before Bentley's bankruptcy in May, 1931. were, like this example, on the long, 156-inch wheelbase chassis. This car, a full Classic, carries four-door, two-window sport sedan bodywork with integral projecting trunk. This latter is internally lined and of lop-opening type. The front seats are of separate, bucket type. The center-lock wire wheels include a single, rear-mounted spare: accessory discs go with the car, but are not fitted since the present owner does not consider that they enhance the appearance. Other equipment includes dual windshield wipers and telecontrol shock absorbers. The headlamps (original equipment) are by Stephan Grebel of Paris, with Bosch spot/fog lamps. Paintwork is in green with black Rexine top, black belt molding, gold coach line, and black fenders and running gear. Interior trim is in tan leather, with rosewood cabinet work. Right-hand steering is, of course, fitted.

The car is to original specification with a few minor deviations, such as later (but not anachronistic) tail lamps to conform with California law: orthodox interior door handles to replace the now unobtainable ramshorn originals; an electric fuel gauge; orthodox dual wipers in place of the traversing type fitted by a past American owner: and an electric fuel pump in addition to the standard Autovac system. The car was delivered new in Britain in 1932, to William K. Vanderbilt, Jr., then a student at Trinity College, Cambridge. The original Gill convertible sedan body work proving unsatisfactory, Mr. Vanderbilt had H. J. Mulliner of London build him a new body in 1934: this being this handsome owner-drive sedan without divider. Fitting a compact, non-conforming body on the long chassis posed certain problems, including a revised steering column and pedal extensions. The car returned to America with its owner, but was back in Britain by 1947, when it was owned by the then Curator of the Montagu Motor Museum at Beaulieu. It has been resident in the U.S.A. again since 1960, living unused in a Michigan collection for over fifteen years. Since entering its present ownership it has received a ground-up restoration by a devotee of the Marque, using replacement parts as necessary, many obtained from leading English Bentley specialists Hofmann and Mountfort. The vehicle is now in excellent driving as well as cosmetic condition.

 
     
     
  Source: Catalog published for Christie's Auction of Collectors' Cars and Vintage Airplanes, Feb. 15, 1981, in Los Angelese, California
Posted: Feb 05, 2007
 
     
1987
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"Sam Ornstein's H.J. Mulliner saloon, YM5040." — From the article 'Pebble Beach 1987'

 
     
     
  Source: The Flying Lady, November-December 1987
Posted: Aug 01, 2013
 
     
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These photographs were taken between late-1950s and early-1960s.

 
     
     
  Source: Richard B. Ford, Rick's Classic Cars
Posted: Jan 24, 2009
 
     
1960
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June 1960

August 1960
 
 
 

YM5040 advert in 1960 Motor sport

 
     
     
  Source: Motor Sport magazine, 1960
Posted: Mar 12, 2018
 
     
EARLIEST RECORD OF HISTORICAL FACTS & INFORMATION
 
Chassis No. YM5040
Engine No. YM5040
Registration No. GC 2584
Date of Delivery: Jun 1932
Type of Body: Saloon
Coachbuilder: GILL
Type of Car: 13
   
First Owner: VANDERBILT W K
 
     
  More Info: Michael Hay, in his book Bentley: The Vintage Years, 1997, states: "F/8067. H J Mulliner saloon fitted 1934 re-reg CD 7679. Now in USA."  
     
     
  Posted: Mar 01, 2007  
     
 
 
 
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Sep 30, 2020 - Info and photograph received from Simon Hunt for Chassis No. RL3439
Sep 30, 2020 - Info and photographs received from Dick Clay for Chassis No. 147
Sep 29, 2020 - Info and photographs received from Ernst Jan Krudop for his Chassis No. AX1651
Sep 28, 2020 - Info and photographs received from Lars Hedborg for his Chassis No. KL3590
Sep 25, 2020 - Info and photograph added for Registration No. XV 3207
Sep 24, 2020 - Info and photograph added for Registration No. YM 7165
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