Bentley Corsica 8 Litre Sports Tourer

Flying Scotsman Rally, 2013

Silverstone 2009, Bentley Drivers Club 60th Anniversary

The Windsor-Ascot Rally, May 1977
"Bentley 8 litre, 1930 Corsica tourer (YX5121) - The much modified and famous ex-Forrest Lycett car, now owned by BDC President Stanley Sedgwick." — Story and pictures by Ted and Gloria Reich

This famous car will forever be associated with just two people: Mr. Forrest Lycett, the original owner, and Mr. L. C. McKenzie, the developer.

The chassis was completed on the 29th December 1931 and endowed with an open 4-seater body by Corisca. Over the years, however, the car underwent continuous development resulting in this becoming the fastest Bentley from Cricklewood ever produced until the advent of John Goddards' 1972 run at Jabbeke. The chassis side frame members were substituted by those from a 4-litre Bentley, reducing the wheelbase from 12' to 11''; the whole car was lowered and weight was reduced from 2 1/2 tons to 33 cwt, largely by the fitting of a new duralumin body.

The engine was tuned to produce 340 bhp, by constant development until the 'limit' had been reached.

Many class records were taken both in England at Shelsley Walsh, Lewes and Brooklands and abroad at Antwerp, and at Jabbeke, where four class records stood for 8 years. Perhaps the best example of the power produced is in this car's ability to cover the flying mile in 25.56 sees (140.845 mph) and the standing mile in 37.76 secs (95.338 mph).

The car was acquired by Mr. Sears in April 960 upon the death of Mr. Forrest Lycett, in accordance with mutual arrangements which had been previously made.

Forrest Lycett in his 8-litre Bentley.

This photograph is from Motor Sport magazine, 1957.

Accompanying text reads: This car took the International Class B s.s. mile record at Brooklands in 1939, just before the Trak closed in 1939, being driven from London and back the same day.

Forrest Lycett in his 8-litre Bentley.

1954 Anglo-American Rally, England.