1932 Bentley 8-Litre Tourer

This Bentley Tourer is the eighth from the last 8-Litre built, and one of just 35 on the 12-foot 'Short Chassis.' The car was built late in the production run, and remained at the Bentley Works, finished except for its coachwork, when Bentley Motors entered receivership on July 11th of 1931. The company was renamed Bentley Motors Ltd., and became a wholly owned subsidiary of Rolls-Royce.

The few unsold, complete, unbodied chassis were subsequently sold to London Rolls-Royce and Bentley dealers Jack Barclay and Jack Olding.

This particular example was ordered by Sir Everard Talbot Scarisbrick, 2nd Baronet and 30th Lord of Scarisbrick in Lancashire. It was given a four-passenger tourer body by the London coachbuilders Mayfair. It was delivered to the Baronet in May of 1932. In July of 1932, a Jaeger speedometer and rev counter were installed, followed in February of 1934 by a higher-ratio 15/53 crown wheel and pinion, and three SU fuel pumps in place of the original Autovac.

The next owner was J.C. Babcock of London, in whose ownership it was maintained for over 30 years. While in his care, the engine and chassis were overhauled in 1936 and the rear axle with replaced with a special high-ratio 16/53 type.

In 1938, Mr. Babcock approached coachbuilders Vanden Plas of London to re-body his Bentley. The result was a Tourer body with cut-down driver's side door, and low-slung waistline. The only other car of this era that was given Vanden Plas coachwork was Vivian Hewitt's famous YX5119, which is considered the most valuable 8-Liter. It was built immediately following this one.

Mr. Babcock entered this car in the 1949 Bentley Drivers' Club Kensington Gardens Concours.

After 30 years of ownership, Mr. Babcock sold his Bentley in 1967 to L.R. Beakbane, who retained it for just one year. It was then sold in 1968 to Hans Dieter Holterbosch, the American importer of Löwenbrau beer. The car was restored in the United Kingdom by Don McKenzie, with the body re-finished and re-trimmed by Hooper & Company in Westminster, then returned to the United States and into the Holterbosch stable. There it remained, mostly unseen, for the next 45 years.

The current caretaker acquired the car several years ago and sympathetically returned it to running order.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2016