|
|
1931 Bentley 8 Litre |
|
|
Original 1932 Numbers
Chassis
No. YM5043
Engine No. YM5043
Registration No. GY 4121
|
|
This car - updated
Chassis No. YM5043
Engine No.
Registration No. GY 4121
(Updated with information from Gooding & Company. - August 2010) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
August 2019 |
Click
on thumbnail for larger view |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Found on NDR Limited website on August 5, 2019
Bentley 8 Litre Sportsmans Coupe
A supercar or a luxury limousine is not an uncommon sight today. In 1931 the 8 Litre Bentley was the height of motoring decadence. Beautifully engineered it was capable of travelling from 5 MPH to 100 MPH and back again in top gear. An 8 Litre Bentley cost in the region of 2800 pounds. A house within walking distance of the Cricklewood factory where it was produced cost in the region of 350.00 pounds The road tax was 33.00 pounds. A typical weekly wage was around 3.00 pounds That a factory in Cricklewood produced 100 such motor cars was remarkable. But the story of this 8 Litre Bentley is, in itself, remarkable.
Purchased by 27 year old the Hon. Somerset Maxwell from Jack Barclay in 1932 this vintage Bentley passed to its second owner 4 years later. In the hands of this owner it was placed into storage and did not see daylight again until purchased in its complete form by John Rees in 1961.
The restoration which commenced in painstaking, exacting and exhausting detail took 40 years to complete. Matching the wonderful Gurney Nutting bodied 1930 Olympia show car, which reputedly had disappeared in curious circumstances whilst being loaded onto a ship by crane in the late 1930s in the USA, the original coachwork was removed and replaced with attention to the highest quality. The quality of the leather, the engineering and crafted panel work is universally acknowledged as being second to none. Every switch, handle, dial is superb in its detail.
To drive this vintage Bentley today, as we have recently done in central London, is to recapture the decadence of the early 1930s. It does not cost as much as eight houses and the road tax is now free but it is as remarkable now as it was 87 years ago. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Source:
NDR Limited
Posted: Aug 05, 2019 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
August
2010 |
Click
on thumbnail for larger view |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1931 Bentley 8
Litre Sportsmans Coupe
When this 8 Litre chassis, YM5043,
left Bentley Motors in 1931, it was
the 68th example of the W.O. supercar
built. It was immediately shipped
to Carlton Carriage Co. where it was
united with a formal Sedanca de Ville
body, as was the case with many of
the most exclusive and incredibly
expensive chassis.
In June 1932, nearly a year after
Bentley Motors had gone into receivership,
the 8 Litre was sold by Jack Barclay
to the Hon. Somerset Maxwell; due
to the unusual circumstances surrounding
its sale, the car was offered with
a one-year, rather than Bentleys
usual five-year, guarantee. Once in
the hands of its first owner, the
Bentley was registered as GY
4121 and between its delivery
and February 1936, factory records
indicate that several components needed
for service were sent to the attention
of H.M. Bentley & Partners, a
London-based firm.
In March 1936, C. Payne-Croft purchased
the 8 Litre and kept it for 25 years,
after which it was sold to John Rees.
For many years, Mr. Rees had set his
sights on an 8 Litre with a very special
project in mind. Upon receiving the
car, he removed the Carlton body and
the car was restored over a 40-year
period with the goal of reviving one
of the most famous Bentleys ever built
the legendary 1930 Olympia
Motor Show Sportsmans Coupe
by Gurney Nutting.
Described by Bentley historian, Johnnie
Green, as probably the most
beautiful body to grace an 8 Litre
chassis, the Olympia Motor Show
car was lost forever when it reputedly
fell into the sea while being loaded
onto a boat. If ever there were a
missing 8 Litre to resurrect, it would
surely be this magnificent show car
with its low roof, daring proportions
and finely wrought details. So spectacular
was the original, some claim it took
Bentley almost an entire year to complete.
To recreate the stunning looks of
the show car, the chassis frame of
the 8 Litre was fitted with side rails
from a 4 Litre Bentley, chassis VA
4090, and this number stamping can
be found on a front dumb iron. The
4 Litre side rails were made from
the same drawings as the 8 Litre;
however, they were available in 112
and 118 lengths as opposed
to the standard 8-Litre wheelbases
of 12 and 13. As such,
the chassis side rails are interchangeable
between the 4 and 8 Litre, needing
only basic re-alignment.
The engine is said to be equipped
with an ex-Jumbo Goddard special crankshaft
with large journals and wide crankpins,
strengthened forged connecting rods,
hardened valve seats, a Phoenix camshaft,
a late-series five-gallon sump, and
spark provided by both Magneto and
manually over-ridden coil ignition.
Additionally, the massive straight-six
features a special triple-carburetor
manifold, a stainless steel front
enclosure plate, cooling manifold
and balance damper, crank nose-driven
alternator and steel rocker arms with
needle bearings.
This incredible power plant drives
through a desirable D-type close ratio
unit from a 4 1/2 Litre Bentley, a
lightweight propshaft with modern
Universal joints and a Speed Six/4
Litre rear axle that is lighter than
the original 8 Litre unit and equipped
with a high-ratio crown wheel and
pinion. The front axle is the correct
numbered unit with the original non-servo
brake pattern, the Perrot shafts and
their fittings are correct for the
model, and the steering column is
the original numbered unit for YM
5043, still with its original fittings
intact.
The cross members are from the 8 Litre
with the exception of the rear gearbox
cross member which was made to fit
the D-type Bentley gearbox. However,
the front cross member is clearly
stamped with the original chassis
number, YM 5043. It also bears mentioning
that the tubular cross me mbers are
all the correct 8 Litre components
and the original bulkhead plate proudly
displays the original YM 5043 engraving.
For improved drivability, the Autovac
capacity was increased, the headlamps
have been fitted with quartz/halogen
bulbs, a power-steering pump has been
installed, the petrol tank was replaced
in aluminum with riveted seams, the
rear suspension was updated with special
AVO adjustable telescopic units, springs
were reset and cambered by Brost Forge
and a new radiator core was installed
with a general overhaul by Vintage
Radiators.
The coachwork is a stunning display
of British craftsmanship and the quality
and attention to detail that went
into this car is simply extraordinary.
The body is finished in a deep, alluring
shade of red and features the sweeping
wings, flowing running boards, specially
made wheel discs, louvred splash guards
and the sporting low roof that made
the original such a handsome design.
Inside the cabin, one finds precision
woodwork, hand-formed panels and hand-stitched
leather seats that possess a very
inviting quality and the appropriate
character of vintage upholstery. In
the trunk, the 8 Litre is equipped
with fabulous and well-stocked dual-folding
tool-trays completing this superb
package.
It is said that nearly a million pounds
sterling was spent on the construction
of this marvelous one-off Bentley
and the level of workmanship and passion
that went into this project is apparent.
For the Bentley enthusiast who has
always admired the striking design
and character of the Gurney Nutting
Olympia Motor Show car, here is an
8 Litre that captures this landmark
design and combines it with the best
qualities of Bentley motoring. A perfect
car for BDC tours, concours and vintage
rallies, this spectacular 8 Litre
Coupe is a marvelous drivers
car and a lasting testament to one
mans passion and dream
to return one of the most enigmatic
British automobiles ever produced
to the road. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Source:
Gooding & Company
Posted: Aug 04, 2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
May-Aug-Sep
2008 |
Offered
for sale by Stanley Mann Racing |
|
|
|
On May 19, 2008 the
Stanley Mann Racing website offers
this car for sale with a flourish,
"...here it is, after a forty-three
year restoration, the best-looking
8 litre Sports Coupe ever."
Stanley Mann adds: "This 8 litre
was purchased by a true Bentley enthusiast
in 1961. His dream was to recreate
the best looking Bentley 8 litre ever,
namely the Gurney Nutting Sports Coupe...
Though it took some 12 months for
the factory to build it, this brave
chap set about the reconstruction
of his 8 litre to this specification...
The original 8 litre was a bit special
and was the Olympia Show Car for 1930.
As this car no longer survives, and
having the time, passion, and ability
to reconstruct this magnificent Bentley
on his 8 litre chassis, he built his
dream."
Stanley Mann finds the work detail
on the car quite amazing. He says,
"... in fact, I couldn't believe
that it was still possible to do this
to this fantastic standard. Mods include
the fitting of power steering, D-type
gearbox, speed six rear axle, making
this 8 litre Bentley an absolute joy
to drive." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted:
Sep 08, 2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 2008 |
Click
on thumbnail for larger view |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1932 Bentley 8 Litre Gurney Nutting Sports
Saloon
Well, here it is, after a forty-three year restoration,
the best-looking 8 litre Sports Coupe ever.
This 8 litre was purchased by a true Bentley enthusiast in
1961. His dream was to recreate the best looking Bentley 8
litre ever, namely the Gurney Nutting Sports Coupe.
Though it took some 12 months for the factory to build it,
this brave chap set about the reconstruction of his 8 litre
to this specification.
The original 8 litre was a bit special and was the Olympia
Show Car for 1930. As this car no longer survives, and having
the time, passion, and ability to reconstruct this magnificent
Bentley on his 8 litre chassis, he built his dream.
Detail work is amazing, in fact, I couldnt believe that
it was still possible to do this to this fantastic standard.
Mods include the fitting of power steering, D-type gearbox,
speed six rear axle, making this 8 litre Bentley an absolute
joy to drive. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Source: Stanley
Mann Racing
Updated: Aug 21, 2008
Posted: May 19, 2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EARLIEST
RECORD OF HISTORICAL FACTS & INFORMATION |
|
|
|
Chassis No. |
YM5043 |
Engine No. |
YM5043 |
Registration
No. |
GY 4121 |
Date of Delivery: |
May 1932 |
Type of Body: |
SEDANCA |
Coachbuilder: |
CARLTON |
Type of Car: |
13 |
|
|
First Owner: |
SOMERST MAXWELL
H |
|
|
|
|
|
|
More Info:
Michael Hay, in his book Bentley:
The Vintage Years, 1997, states:
"F/8070. 2 door saloon by H J Mulliner
11'2" WB using 4 Litre side members.
Now fitted D type box." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mar 01, 2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Submit
more information on this car |
|
|
|
BACK |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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 |
|
[More] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CLUB TALK
Upcoming Vintage Bentley Events |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|