{"product_id":"bentley-8-litre","title":"Bentley 8 Litre","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe Bentley 8 Litre was unveiled in October 1930 at the Olympia Show in London. It succeeded the successful Speed Six and represented the pinnacle of Bentley’s engineering at the time. In its day, this Bentley was the fastest and most expensive British automobile. The bare chassis alone cost 1,850 pounds. That put its price a full 50 pounds above that of a Rolls-Royce Phantom II.\n    \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA total of exactly 100 Bentley 8 Litre models were produced. Only about 35 vehicles were built with the short 12-foot wheelbase. Compared to the Speed Six, the 8 Litre featured a significantly more substantial and stiffer chassis. It also included a quieter hypoid rear axle and the exceptionally robust F-type transmission. These technical features made the 8 Litre the pinnacle of the large Bentleys from the Cricklewood era.\n    \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDepending on the body style and rear-axle gear ratio, speeds of more than 160 km\/h were possible. Bentley guaranteed a top speed of over 100 mph even with heavy bodywork. As a result, the 8 Litre offered performance that was exceptional for such a large and luxurious automobile. \n    \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYF5023 is the 23rd chassis built and thus belongs to the early series ranging from YF5001 to YF5025. Even at the time of delivery, this vehicle was equipped with a particularly sporty specification. It was fitted with the fastest of the three standard rear-axle gear ratios, at 15 to 53, or 3.53 to 1. In addition, it featured a higher compression ratio of 5.5 to 1.\n    \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis combination was by no means common. Bentley also chose it for the showroom car of the renowned London Bentley dealer Jack Barclay. As a result, YF5023 already holds a special place within the 8 Litre series in its original technical configuration.\n    \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMany original components can still be identified today. The YF5023 engine features the early crankcase with part number BM7190. The original transmission housing bears the number 8024. The radiator, numbered G721, has also been preserved. The chassis was delivered to Vanden Plas on March 4, 1931.\n    \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThat is where the body, bearing VdP’s own number 1732, was built. It was a two-door, open-top four-seater in black. A delicate silver line provided an elegant contrast to the paintwork. The interior was upholstered in chinchilla leather. The body was completed on June 11, 1931.\n    \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe final factory test in Cricklewood took place on July 10, 1931. It was a remarkable moment in Bentley’s history. That very same day, the company was no longer able to pay its employees’ wages. Just one day later, a petition for bankruptcy was filed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOf the 100 Bentley 8 Litre cars ever built, only 15 were equipped with an open-top body from the start. Even rarer was the new Vanden Plas two-door model featured here. Only three chassis were fitted with this body style.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYF5023 was the car used for demonstration purposes by Jack Barclay. The second chassis was YR5095. It belonged to three-time Le Mans winner and Bentley financier Woolf Barnato. The third car bore the chassis number YX5122 and was delivered to one of Jack Barclay’s customers.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOn May 26, 1932, Philip Turner Ltd. sold the Bentley to the well-known race car driver Whitney Straight for 1,200 pounds. Straight had the original Vanden Plas body removed. This body was later mounted on chassis YR5097, where it remains to this day and has undergone only minor modifications.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhitney Straight had the Bentley further engineered for his personal use. The rear-axle gear ratio was changed to 3.3 to 1. The vehicle was also fitted with stiffer springs and underwent other modifications. In 1933, YF5023 was driven by Miss P. Altham in the historic hill climb at Shelsley Walsh.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the years that followed, the Bentley changed hands several times. Its owners included Thomas Lilley, D.A.L. Dwyer, Jack Barclay (again), and J.C. Carlson. In 1938, the car finally came into the possession of R.E. Carr.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBy that time, YF5023 had already traveled more than 83,000 miles. The last documented service was on January 23, 1939. At first, it seemed that the story of the original vehicle had come to an end.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHowever, the key mechanical components were retained. The engine and transmission from the YF5023 were carried over to the short-wheelbase 4 Litre Special EYT970 with a Corsica Coupé body. The axles were also used in that model.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOther original chassis components were also preserved. These included the steering column and the numbered front cross member. These parts were first added to John Wilment’s well-known Bentley spare parts collection and later passed on to Donald Day.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBased on these original core components, the vehicle was ultimately rebuilt as a Bentley 8 Litre. Eberhard Thiesen from Hamburg took on this extraordinary project. In particular, the numbered front crossmember, the original steering column, and the original engine block were used. Today, however, the engine block bears the engine number of a different Bentley 8 Litre.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSpecial attention was paid to the reconstruction of the open Vanden Plas body. The body was rebuilt with millimeter precision based on one of the two surviving sister vehicles. A new wooden frame serves as the foundation. The sheet metal work performed on it is of high quality and requires virtually no body filler.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGreat emphasis was also placed on authenticity and quality in the interior design. The upholstery work was carried out by a specialized English company. For about 50 years, this company has focused exclusively on the interiors of pre-war Bentleys.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe restoration also included a completely new wiring harness. The glass was replaced, and the chrome parts were refurbished. The engine was overhauled by David Ayre, who is considered one of the leading experts in England on engines of this type. As part of the overhaul, a new cylinder block was installed. The crankcase itself is original.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYF5023 thus has an extraordinary and very well-documented history. The car was originally intended as a demonstration vehicle for Jack Barclay. It was one of only three Bentley 8 Litre models featuring the then-new open-top Vanden Plas body. Shortly thereafter, it was purchased by Bentley Boy and race car driver Whitney Straight and was also used in motorsports.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe vehicle as it appears today is the result of an extensive restoration. Crucially, this restoration was not based on just any foundation. Numerous key original parts from YF5023, which can be clearly identified, were preserved over decades and now form the foundation of the vehicle.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs a result, this Bentley combines an exceptionally well-documented chassis history with a meticulously reconstructed body and a large number of original components. YF5023 is thus a fascinating testament to the final—and at the same time, technically most sophisticated—stage of development of the large Cricklewood Bentleys.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\n    \u003cstrong\u003ePrice: on request\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\nIf you have any further questions or are interested in this vehicle, please contact us.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bentley","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":62086584664332,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2617\/8062\/files\/123_007dc088-f6f6-4c1e-aa37-d4afe02fe3e4.jpg?v=1789561151","url":"https:\/\/www.nicola-ac.de\/en\/products\/bentley-8-litre","provider":"Ni-Cola Classics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}