To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' The
S�ragga Collection event, 20 - 21 September 2019.
Estimate:
€700,000 - €800,000
- Documented, original build records and known history from
new
- Handwritten factory workshop records from the 1930s
- Detailed photos and notes from restoration by marque specialist
in the 2000s
- Documented by Bentley historian Clare Hay in Bentley: The
Vintage Years
Introduced at the London Motor Show in 1930, the Bentley 8-Litre
made an immediate impact. While the engine was an extension of the
successful 6.5-litre Speed Six that powered Bentleys to numerous
race victories, the 8-Litre was intended to knock Rolls-Royce from
its pedestal. Capable of 100+ mph fitted with heavy formal
coachwork, the Phantom had difficulty attaining 90 mph. It also
impressed the automotive scribes of the era, with the Sphere of
1931 describing the new 8-Litre as 'one of the finest examples of
British automobile engineering that has ever been produced'.
Regardless of expense and engineered to the highest standards, no
detail was overlooked. For example, the exhaust pipe was
asbestos-lagged, encased in aluminium to reduce resonance, then
coupled with a 20-gallon 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, meshing with
the flywheel before rotation begins.
Of the 100 8-Litre Bentleys built, YR5094 is the eleventh-to-last
constructed. It was first delivered May 1931, wearing Thrupp and
Maberly limousine coachwork, to Eu Tong Sen in Singapore, who often
was accompanied by his lady friends�lending the car the moniker of
'the harem saloon'. During WWII it was safely stored in a mine,
before returning to the UK around 1950, where Peter Quinn, the next
owner, removed the original body. Its next owner was Peter Morley,
who shortened the chassis to a 30-inch wheelbase and fitted a
stylish two-seater body suited to the vintage racing events he
participated in.
The next owner, Mr Posnett, dismantled the car and returned the
chassis to its original length of 12 feet. Still dismantled, it was
purchased by John Cobbing in 2002, who had it restored by Bentley
specialists the Vintage Workshop. The engine was completely
rebuilt, including the one-shot lubrication system, clutch,
carburetors, Auto-Vac, exhaust system, radiator, gearbox, 3.2:1
differential, suspension, and steering. Everything was either
replaced, restored, or inspected and re-fitted to as close to
as-new condition as possible.
It was then re-bodied as a Vanden Plas-style four-seater, two-door
tourer. The fresh Midnight Blue paint finish enhances its lines,
especially those iconic Gurney-Nutting-style helmet wings, and an
era-correct original Lagonda luggage trunk was fitted over the gas
tank. The interior was impeccably retrimmed using grey hides. The
polished walnut instrument panel is complete with authentic black
beveled speedometer, tachometer, voltage amp meter, Bosch ignition
switch, ARIC oil pressure gauge, and correct switch for battery,
battery/magneto, and magneto selections.
Few pre-war marques experienced as many coachwork and engine swaps
as the W. O. Bentley cars, but YR5094 hides no secrets, as
documented by its accompanying history file. Most 8-Litre Bentleys,
like this example, were originally fitted with formal closed bodies
that were eventually replaced with more sporting open tourers. The
practice of replacing saloon and limousine bodies started in the
1930s, when owners began to move from the back seat to the
front.
Noted motor car enthusiast David E Davis Jr was quoted in Forbes,
1991, as saying, 'What is the highest tribute one can pay a noble,
inspired million-dollar classic automobile? Simple, old boy, drive
the bloody thing.'
With its exceptional provenance, wonderful condition, and rare
production, this 8-Litre open tourer represents Bentley's most
masterful creations. As 2019 is the 100th Jubilee Anniversary of
Bentley Motors, it is certain to be welcomed to all celebrations of
the marque.
- Bem documentado, com registos de produ��o originais e hist�ria
conhecida desde novo
- Registos de f�brica manuscritos datando dos anos 30
- Restauro por especialista da marca meticulosamente documentado
com fotos e apontamentos
- Descrito pela historiadora da Bentley Clare Hay, no livro
"Bentley: The Vintage Years"
Apresentado no Motor Show de Londres, em 1930, o Bentley 8-Litre
teve um impacto imediato. O motor era um desenvolvimento do bem
sucedido 6,5 litros Speed Six, que tinha levado os Bentley �
vit�ria em in�meras ocasi�es. Mas com o 8-Litre o objetivo era
tirar a Rolls Royce do seu pedestal. Era capaz de mais de 160 km/h,
mesmo quando equipado com carro�arias mais pesadas e formais,
enquanto o Phantom tinha dificuldade em atingir 145 km/h. Tamb�m
impressionou os jornalistas especializados da �poca, com o jornal
ilustrado "The Sphere", de 1931, a descrever o novo 8-Litre como
"dos melhores exemplos de sempre da qualidade de engenharia
autom�vel brit�nica."
Sem olhar a despesas e com uma qualidade t�cnica do mais elevado
padr�o, nenhum detalhe foi negligenciado. Por exemplo, o tubo de
escape estava revestido em amianto, por sua vez envolto em
alum�nio, para reduzir a resson�ncia. Estava ainda acoplado a um
silencioso com 76 litros. O som de escape resultante � m�sica para
os entusiastas da Bentley. O motor de arranque foi concebido para
ser acionado com suprema precis�o, atrav�s de condutor �nico em
forma de espiral, que engrena no volante de motor antes de se
iniciar a rota��o.
Dos 100 Bentley 8-Litre produzidos, YR5094 foi o 11�. a contar do
fim, conclu�do com uma carro�aria de limusina fechada, realizada
pela Thrupp and Maberly. Foi inicialmente entregue em maio de 1931,
a Eu Tong Sen, de Singapura, que viajava nele frequentemente,
acompanhado pelas suas amigas � ficou na altura conhecido como a
"berlina do har�m". Durante a II Guerra Mundial foi cuidadosamente
guardado numa mina, antes de regressar ao Reino Unido, por volta de
1950. Foi ali que Peter Quinn, o propriet�rio seguinte, retirou a
carro�aria original. Peter Morley, que o adquiriu a seguir,
encurtou o chassis para uma dist�ncia entre eixos de cerca de tr�s
metros, aplicando-lhe uma carro�aria desportiva de dois lugares,
adequada para participar em provas de autom�veis vintage.
O seu dono subsequente, Mr. Posnett, desmanchou totalmente o
autom�vel e devolveu o comprimento original ao chassis, inclu�ndo a
sua majestosa dist�ncia entre eixos de 3,66 metros. Ainda em pe�as,
o Bentley foi adquirido em 2002, por John Cobbing, que o mandou
restaurar no especialista da marca The Vintage Workshop. O motor
foi completamente reconstru�do, inclu�ndo o sistema de lubrifica��o
de a��o �nica (com v�lvula one shot), embraiagem, carburadores,
Auto Vac, sistema de escape, radiador, caixa de velocidades,
diferencial 3,2:1, suspens�o e dire��o. Todos os componentes foram
ou substitu�dos, ou restaurados, ou inspecionados e re-aparelhados
com um detalhe t�o pr�ximo quanto poss�vel da condi��o de novo.
Foi ent�o que recebeu uma nova carro�aria torpedo de duas portas e
quatro lugares, no estilo Vanden Plas. A pintura em azul Midnight
Blue real�a as suas linhas, sobretudo os emblem�ticos guarda-lamas
de formato envolvente, reminescentes do estilo Gurney-Nutting, e
uma mala de bagagem Lagonda, original e correta para a �poca,
montada sobre o tanque de combust�vel. O habit�culo foi estofado de
novo, com pele cinzenta. O painel de instrumentos ...for more
information please contact the seller.
