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News & Features May 10, 2007, 4:05PM EST

The Great Bentley 8

(page 2 of 2)

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This particular car appears to be a one-off, and it was the second-to-last produced by W. O. Bentley's motor car company. Shortly after this car was built, Rolls-Royce bought Bentley out of receivership (foiling W.O.'s plan to sell to Napier and keep going) and Bentley himself joined Lagonda. Though respectable Bentley-badged cars continued to be produced by Rolls-Royce in Derby, as "The Silent Sports Car," there would never be another W. O. Bentley.

Speeds in excess of 100 mph

Mayfair bodied two 8-liter Bentleys. This fixed-head coupe would have been lighter than most, and therefore much faster, able to sustain speeds in excess of 100 mph.

Regardless of expense, no detail was overlooked in these cars. For example, the exhaust pipe was asbestos lagged, encased in aluminum to reduce resonance, then coupled with a 20-gallon trash can-sized silencer. The resulting exhaust note is bliss to the Bentley faithful.

The starter was designed to engage with surgical precision via a unique solenoid design. It meshes with the flywheel before rotation begins. The above are just two of dozens of examples that distinguish a Bentley from its contemporaries. The cars were engineered to the highest standards.

Some car collectors have ignored vintage Bentleys, dismissing them as too agricultural or too bulky. But except for 1931's quirky 4-liter Bentley, they are nimble and responsive. With the growing popularity of new Bentleys like the Continental GT, accompanied by advertising campaigns reminding us of Bentley's rich racing heritage, a wider circle of collectors are starting to become aware of these rolling pieces of automotive history.

However, few pre-war marques suffered as many coachwork and engine swaps as the W. O. Bentley cars. The majority of 8-liter Bentleys were originally fitted with formal closed bodies that were eventually tossed aside and replaced with more sporting, open tourers. Sadly, many of these replacement bodies are hideous hulks.

The practice of replacing "Aunt Emily" saloon and limousine bodies started in the 1930s, when car owners began to move from the back seat to the front. They no longer wanted to be chauffeur-driven; they wanted to feel the wind in their faces. So a vintage Bentley that has retained its original body—especially an elegant closed design like this one—will always merit a premium price over one with an ungainly replacement.

Records available from new

Complete records of these cars from new are available, and it's relatively easy to determine which cars are authentic. As values increase, genuine examples will lead the way. That includes this well-maintained car with its original body and original engine.

You may have missed this one, but another is sure to appear. So during the interim, do your homework. For example, is the original engine still in the car? With very few exceptions, the engine number is the same as the chassis number. With this car, the engine number is one number up from the chassis number, but we know it's the original, thanks to the late Stanley Sedgwick's booklet All the Pre-War Bentleys—As New. It lists all of these cars by chassis number, engine number, British registration number (license number), delivery date, coachbuilder and body type, and the original owner's name.

Once you learn a bit more about vintage Bentleys, you'll want to talk to other Bentley owners. You'll find them to be very opinionated. One will swear that his 3-liter Speed Model is the one to have. Another will argue that only the 6 1/2- and 8-liter are worth owning.

Meet as many owners as you can and beg for rides in cars in your price range. Maybe, someone may even allow you to drive his. In the end, buy the one that makes you smile the most.

Years Produced: 1930–31

Number Produced: 100 (35 in 12-foot wheelbase, 65 in 13-foot wheelbase)

Original List Price: Chassis £1,850 ($8,810) Coachwork £2,500 ($11,905)

SCM Valuation: $400k to $1.5m (at time of print)

Tune-up Cost: $1,500 to $2,000

Chassis #: YX5124

Chassis # Location: Front cross member, right knuckle of front dumb-iron and firewall

Engine # Location: Lower left side of engine block

Club Info: Bentley Drivers Club, 16 Chearsley Road, Long Crendon, Aylesbury, Bucks HP18 9AW

Web Site: http://www.bdcl.org

Alternatives: 1938–40 Lagonda V12 Rapide, 1931–38 Hispano Suiza J12 Type 68 cabriolet, 1936–39 Mercedes-Benz 540K coupe or cabriolet

Investment Grade: A

Provided by Sports Car Market—The Insider's Guide to Collecting, Investing, Values and Trends

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