1932 Bentley 8-Litre Tourer

Debuted at the 1930 London Motor Show, the first 8 Litre Bentley was the largest-engined car available in the United Kingdom at that time. The bare chassis alone cost £1850, which put it in direct competition with the Rolls-Royce Phantom II. The 8 Litre engine offered better performance, though, and Bentley's advertising claimed the car would do '100 mph without noise.' W.O. Bentley was quoted as saying 'I have wanted to produce a dead silent 100 mph car, and now I think we have done it.'

This example is one of the few short-chassis 8 Litres bodied by Vanden Plas of London. It was originally delivered in May 1932 to Miss H.G. Dobbs, who became a frequent visitor to the Brooklands circuit near London. In 1934, the car was acquired by Mr. A. Gardner, who in turn sold it to Edward Nugent Head in February 1937 for £425. In 1946 the car was purchased by Major Hartley W. Whyte and remained in his family for nearly 30 years. After changing hands a few more times, the 8 Litre was restored by P & A Wood in 2012.