|
Chassis:
Commissioned by Bentley Chairman Woolf Barnato himself, this 8 Litre was built on the short, 12' chassis. It was fitted with high compression pistons and an exhaust cut-out. Vanden Plas fitted the rolling chassis with two-door, four-seat Sports Tourer body. Registered 'GP 401', the 8 Litre was delivered to the legendary Bentley Boy in June of 1931. In 1932, the Bentley was shipped to California for Barnato's honeymoon. The following year, he offered the Sports Tourer for sale as owning three 8 Litres was one too many: “That one I use, that one my wife uses for shopping, the third I am selling.”
The next custodian was Reginald Clarence Presland, who used the car in the RAC's 1000 Miles Rally and also raced it at Brooklands. The Flight Lieutenant would own the car until his passing. It was eventually sold by his family in 2004 to Bentley enthusiast Peter Hageman. He used the car in the Pebble Motoring Classic road rally and then showed it in the Preservation class. The following year, it was acquired by Peter Livanos, who had R.C. Moss restore the car to its original configuration. In August, it was shown at Pebble Beach again and won first in class. During the following years, it changed hands once more before the iconic ex-Woolf Barnato 8 Litre was consigned to the 2022 Gooding Pebble Beach Auctions.
Chassis details |
Manufactured in |
1931 |
Engine number |
YR5095 |
First owner |
Woolf Barnato |
License plate |
GP 401 |
Appearances |
|
Most recent auction(s) |
|
|
|