1932 Bentley

• A striking Vanden Plas style tourer on a 12 foot chassis
• One of just one hundred 8 Litre Bentleys built
• Restored and rebodied by Stanley Mann over four years in the 1990s
• Believed to be a low mileage example
• Fitted with its original engine (Engine No YM5036) 
• In beautiful condition and regularly used by the present owner
• Fitted with three SU H08 carburettors 
• Currently situated and registered in the United States of America

Chassis No YM5036 was originally completed in May of 1932 and was supplied by Jack Barclay to Arthur R.B. Owen. It was part of the third round of production of Bentley 8 Litres and was originally delivered as a 13-foot chassis with open two-seater coachwork by Wylder. Just a year later the car was sold to Mrs Nora Hardy MacCaw who owned several other Cricklewood built Bentleys. By 1946 the car now belonged to H.L.Good who began the cars first transformation, with the odometer reportedly showing 25,000 miles from new at this point. The chassis was shortened to 12 feet and a drophead coupe body by Hotchkiss was fitted. The Hotchkiss coachwork was later removed and the rolling chassis and running gear of YM5036 were put into storage until purchased by Stanley Mann in 1991, with the odometer reading 31,000 miles at this point. A four-year program of works by Stanley Mann then ensued, including the creation of the Vanden Plas style tourer coachwork that it wears today, most fitting for the short chassis dimensions. The car was then sold in 2006 to a collector in Germany who used, enjoyed and correctly maintained the car until 2022 when it was purchased by the current owner. The work by Stanley Mann was superb, with a beautifully appointed and constructed body, with dual side mounted spare wheels and the classic three door configuration. It is finished in classic configuration of British Racing Green coachwork with green leather, a black canvas roof, matching black tonneau cover and features a full width folding windscreen and smaller separate Le Mans screens for both driver and passenger. The car drives beautifully and has been properly maintained during the most recent owner’s tenure. Striking to look at and exhilarating to drive, a wonderful motor car in every respect.
Please note that this motor car is currently situated and registered in the United States. It can be viewed by prior appointment which we would be happy to arrange.   

The Bentley 8 Litre was introduced in 1930 and stands as one of the most iconic luxury cars of its era. It was the final and largest car built by Bentley Motors before the company was acquired by Rolls-Royce. It was first introduced at the London Motor Show in October 1930, designed by W.O. Bentley as the ultimate expression of luxury and performance. Following the great success Cricklewood built Bentleys had achieved on the racetrack, W.O. acknowledged that commercially speaking, new avenues had to be explored. The car was intended to compete with the finest luxury motor cars of the day, including the Rolls-Royce Phantom II and the Hispano-Suiza J12.

The 8 Litre debuted during the Great Depression, a time of significant economic hardship globally. This timing contributed to its limited production, as demand for such an extravagant vehicle was low. Only 100 units were produced between 1930 and 1932 and despite its extraordinary capabilities and luxury, the high price and economic climate resulted in slow sales. The financial difficulties stemming from the production of the 8 Litre ultimately led to Bentley Motors being placed into receivership and in 1931, Rolls-Royce acquired Bentley Motors. The 8 Litre became the last Bentley model developed under the original Bentley Motors company.

Despite its commercial failure, the Bentley 8 Litre is revered for its engineering excellence and remains highly sought after by collectors. It is considered a masterpiece of automotive design from the pre-war era.

Technically speaking, the Bentley 8 Litre was a marvel of its time, showcasing advanced engineering and exceptional performance. The car featured a straight-six engine with a displacement of 7,983 cc (8 litres) which was an enlarged version of the preceding Speed Six model. It had an overhead camshaft configuration with four valves per cylinder, making it one of the most advanced engines of its time. The engine produced huge amounts of torque and approximately 220 horsepower, a remarkable figure for the era.

The 8 Litre was built on a robust ladder frame chassis, designed to handle the powerful engine and provide a smooth ride. It was offered in two wheelbase lengths, 144 inches (3,658 mm) and 156 inches (3,962 mm), allowing for a wide range of custom coachwork by different manufacturers.

Despite its size and weight, the 8 Litre could reach speeds of up to 100 mph, with up to 120mph possible when a lightweight aerodynamic body was fitted, making it one of the fastest cars of its time. It had exceptional acceleration and was known for its smooth, quiet operation. The car came with a four-speed manual gearbox which was noted for its durability and smooth shifting. The 8 Litre featured semi-elliptic leaf springs for both front and rear suspension, providing a comfortable ride and was equipped with mechanical drum brakes on all four wheels.

A 1930 edition of Autocar described how smooth the 8 Litre was: "This car can be driven really softly on its high top gear, as slowly as a man walks, and can accelerate from that without snatch and without difficulty, and the whole time the engine, being well within its power, is silent and smooth. In fact, it is only rarely apparent that there is a big engine working under the bonnet at all, and that so high a top ratio is used, when the machine is accelerated from a crawl. For all practical purposes, therefore, the machine does its work on the one gear."