Makes › Bentley › 8 Litre · Rare production · 1930–1931 Extremely Rare
Bentley
8 Litre
W.O. Bentley's last design, cut short by the Rolls-Royce takeover
Still being researched: identification guide. Everything shown is checked against the cited sources. Know more? Send us a source.
Photo: Alexander Migl · CC BY-SA 4.0
Contents
01Overview
At a glance
- Built
- 100 Built
- Years
- 1930–1931
- Engine
- SOHC inline six-cylinder · 7,983 cc / 8.0 LFactory: 7,983 cc
- Power
- 164 kW / 223 PSFactory: 220 hp · converted
- Top speed
- 161 km/hFactory: 100 mph · converted
- Body
- Not yet verified
- Designer
- W.O. Bentley
- In this archive
- Not yet verified
- Surviving
- Not yet verified
Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.
Why it matters
The 8 Litre was the last car built under W.O. Bentley himself and the culmination of the Cricklewood company's large six-cylinder line. Only 100 chassis were completed before the cost of the project and the company's receivership and sale to Rolls-Royce ended production.
How rare is it?
Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.
Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.
Photos
Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.
Bentley 8 Litre (Wikimedia Commons: Bentley 8-Litre)
Photo: Alexander Migl · CC BY-SA 4.0
Bentley 8 Litre (Wikimedia Commons: Bentley 8-Litre)
Photo: MrWalkr · CC BY-SA 4.0
Bentley 8 Litre (Wikimedia Commons: Bentley 8-Litre)
Photo: MrWalkr · CC BY-SA 4.0
02Production & history
Production
Every figure says what it counts.
| What is counted | Figure | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total model productionchassis completed | 1001 | Factory production | Independently researched |
Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.
History
Developed as an evolution of the competition-proven Speed Six, the 8 Litre combined a 7,983 cc overhead-camshaft six with a long chassis suited to formal custom coachwork. The cost of developing and building it contributed to Bentley Motors going into receivership. After the sale to Rolls-Royce, remaining chassis were sold off as new-old stock, and several cars were later rebodied or shortened as specials.
Variants
How each version differs from the standard 8 Litre.
No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
03Specifications
Technical specifications
Engine
| Engine family | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Engine code | Not yet verified |
| Layout | SOHC inline six-cylinder2 Independently researched |
| Cylinders | 63 Independently researched |
| Displacement | 7,983 cc / 8.0 LFactory: 7,983 cc2 Independently researched |
| Bore | 110 mmFactory: 110 mm3 Independently researched |
| Stroke | 140 mmFactory: 140 mm3 Independently researched |
| Compression ratio | Not yet verified |
| Fuel system | Dual SU HO8 carburettors2 Independently researched |
| Power | 164 kW / 223 PSFactory: 220 hp · converted2 Independently researchedSource states bhp. |
| Power at | 3,500 rpm3 Independently researched |
| Torque | Not yet verified |
Transmission & drivetrain
| Gearbox | Four-speed F-type manual2 Independently researched |
|---|---|
| Gears | Not yet verified |
| Final drive | 3.53:12 Independently researched |
| Driven wheels | Not yet verified |
Chassis, body & dimensions
| Chassis | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Front suspension | Not yet verified |
| Rear suspension | Not yet verified |
| Brakes | Not yet verified |
| Steering | Not yet verified |
| Body construction | Not yet verified |
| Wheelbase | 3,400 mmFactory: 134 in · converted2 Independently researched |
| Length | Not yet verified |
| Width | Not yet verified |
| Height | Not yet verified |
| Front track | Not yet verified |
| Rear track | Not yet verified |
| Kerb weight | Not yet verified |
| Dry weight | Not yet verified |
Performance
| Maximum speed | 161 km/hFactory: 100 mph · converted2 Independently researched |
|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | Not yet verified |
| Fuel tank | Not yet verified |
“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.
04Colours & options
Factory colours & interiors
Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Factory options & codes
Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
05Individual cars
Chassis register
Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Competition history
Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Auction & sale history
Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
See one in person
Museums where an example of this car can be seen.
No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
06Reference
Identification guide
How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Sources
Each number links to the exact facts it supports.
-
1
RM Sotheby's Amelia Island 2022, lot 77: 1931 Bentley 8-Litre Special Level C
- 100 chassis completed
-
2
1931 Bentley 8-Litre Tourer by Swallow (Amelia Island 2016) Level C RM Sotheby's
- 7,983 cc SOHC inline six-cylinder engine
- 220 bhp, 7,983 cc SOHC inline six-cylinder engine
- with dual SU HO8 carburetors
- 220 bhp, 7,983 cc
- four-speed "F"-type manual transmission
- standard axle ratio was 3.53:1
- Wheelbase: 134 in.
- capable of 100 mph
-
3
Bentley history (written 1964) Level C sportscars.tv, via Wayback Machine
- for the six cylinders a capacity of 7,983 c.c.
- Engine dimensions were 110 X 140 mm.
- 110 X 140 mm.
- 220 b.h.p. at 3,500 r.p.m.
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