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Chassis:
Commissioned by American sugar tycoon Conrad H. Matthiessen, this 8-Litre was shipped across the Atlantic as a rolling chassis. Due to be fitted with a Convertible Victoria body by Murphy, it became one of only two Cricklewood Bentleys clothed by an American custom coachbuilder. The bodywork for the 8-Litre was penned by Franklin Q. Hershey. Just how long Matthiessen owned the car is not known but it was eventually sold and moved to Mexico, where it was discovered in 1948 by Bill Rivas. The car remained in Mexico and was eventually fitted with a Diamond T truck engine but fortunately the original unit was retained with the car. In 1971, the 8-Litre Convertible Victoria made its way to the United States as it joined the collection of Bentley enthusiast Don Weber. He had the car restored over a four-year period by British specialists Hofmann & Mountfort. One of the original silver door handles had gone missing but Weber managed to track down the Murphy assistant foreman. He re-cast the handle and textured it with the same hammer as had been used back in 1931. Weber go on to own the car through to 1986 and it then changed hands several times before it was acquired by a long-term custodian in 2012. He had it restored again, this time by R.C. Moss in Bedford, England. After the work was completed, it was shown at Pebble Beach where it placed second in class behind another 8-Litre Bentley. In 2025, the long-term owner consigned the car to the RM Sotheby’s Scottsdale auction.
| Chassis details |
| Manufactured in |
February 1931 |
| Engine number |
YR5085 |
| First owner |
Conrad H. Matthiessen Jr. |
| Most recent auction(s) |
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8-Litre Murphy Convertible Victoria
