The Bentley 8 Litre was introduced in 1930 and stands as one of the most iconic luxury cars of its era. It was the final and largest car built by Bentley Motors before the company was acquired by Rolls-Royce. It was first introduced at the London Motor Show in October 1930, designed by W.O. Bentley as the ultimate expression of luxury and performance. Following the great success Cricklewood built Bentleys had achieved on the racetrack, W.O. acknowledged that commercially speaking, new avenues had to be explored. The car was intended to compete with the finest luxury motor cars of the day, including the Rolls-Royce Phantom II and the Hispano-Suiza J12.
The 8 Litre debuted during the Great Depression, a time of significant economic hardship globally. This timing contributed to its limited production, as demand for such an extravagant vehicle was low. Only 100 units were produced between 1930 and 1932 and despite its extraordinary capabilities and luxury, the high price and economic climate resulted in slow sales. The financial difficulties stemming from the production of the 8 Litre ultimately led to Bentley Motors being placed into receivership and in 1931, Rolls-Royce acquired Bentley Motors. The 8 Litre became the last Bentley model developed under the original Bentley Motors company.
Despite its commercial failure, the Bentley 8 Litre is revered for its engineering excellence and remains highly sought after by collectors. It is considered a masterpiece of automotive design from the pre-war era.
Technically speaking, the Bentley 8 Litre was a marvel of its time, showcasing advanced engineering and exceptional performance. The car featured a straight-six engine with a displacement of 7,983 cc (8 litres) which was an enlarged version of the preceding Speed Six model. It had an overhead camshaft configuration with four valves per cylinder, making it one of the most advanced engines of its time. The engine produced huge amounts of torque and approximately 220 horsepower, a remarkable figure for the era.
The 8 Litre was built on a robust ladder frame chassis, designed to handle the powerful engine and provide a smooth ride. It was offered in two wheelbase lengths, 144 inches (3,658 mm) and 156 inches (3,962 mm), allowing for a wide range of custom coachwork by different manufacturers.
Despite its size and weight, the 8 Litre could reach speeds of up to 100 mph, with up to 120mph possible when a lightweight aerodynamic body was fitted, making it one of the fastest cars of its time. It had exceptional acceleration and was known for its smooth, quiet operation. The car came with a four-speed manual gearbox which was noted for its durability and smooth shifting. The 8 Litre featured semi-elliptic leaf springs for both front and rear suspension, providing a comfortable ride and was equipped with mechanical drum brakes on all four wheels.
A 1930 edition of Autocar described how smooth the 8 Litre was: "This car can be driven really softly on its high top gear, as slowly as a man walks, and can accelerate from that without snatch and without difficulty, and the whole time the engine, being well within its power, is silent and smooth. In fact, it is only rarely apparent that there is a big engine working under the bonnet at all, and that so high a top ratio is used, when the machine is accelerated from a crawl. For all practical purposes, therefore, the machine does its work on the one gear."
Thoughts from Frank Dale
The Bentley 8 Litre is a symbol of automotive excellence from the early 20th century. Its blend of luxury, performance, and advanced engineering made it a standout in the pre-war automotive world. Despite its brief production run and the financial challenges it posed for Bentley Motors, the 8 Litre remains an enduring icon of the brand’s storied history. Over the years we have dealt with a number of 8 Litre Bentleys. Nowadays the desirability of an 8 Litre is best reflected in their high values. If you are buying or selling a Bentley 8 Litre we can usually help and discreetly handle a transaction and sometimes even have an example in the workshop undergoing maintenance by our expert vintage Bentley workshop staff.