2019 Best of Show Winner
August 9, 2021
1931 Bentley 8 Litre Gurney Nutting Sports Tourer shown by The Hon. Sir Michael Kadoorie
The Bentley 8 Litre was basically an enlarged version of the Speed Six with a new and lower chassis. Designed to go head-to-head with the new Rolls-Royce Phantom II, the first 8 Litres appeared at the Olympia Motor Show in October 1930 and created a sensation. At the time of the 8 Litre’s launch, W. O. Bentley wrote, “I have always wanted to produce a completely silent, 100 mph car, and now I think we have done it.”
Such was the power of the car’s 7,983 cc, straight-six engine that the company guaranteed it would be capable of over 100 mph regardless of the coachwork.
This Sports Tourer with its dual cowl and detachable rear windscreen is one of two short chassis 8 Litres built with this particular Gurney Nutting body style. The body of the other car was transferred to a Rolls-Royce Phantom chassis many years ago, making this the sole surviving example.
The car has been driven on many tours and rallies over the years and received its first full restoration in 2004. The Hon. Sir Michael Kadoorie acquired the car in 2010.
