1930 Bentley 8 Litre

8 Litre YF5009 at Bil-och Teknikhistoriska Samlingarna i Köping (Sweden) where the car is deposited on loan from National Museum of Science and Technology. Given to the museum in 1951 and not restored other than replacement of tyres. The look of seats is due to the Dunlop air cushions being emptied of air. Minor fittings like rear ashtray in armrest and carburettor dashpot caps stolen. Side cam covers replaced with plexiglass to expose valve mechanism.

Photos taken by Olle and Sven Ljungström on April 10, 2008.

Only one vintage Bentley came to Sweden when new. It is Chassis No. YF5009. This car is a magnificent 8-litre and it is preserved. It is a Freestone & Webb Sports saloon which was originally delivered to Woolf Barnato — one of three — and sold by him to Swedish businessman, Torsten Kreuger, in 1932 or 1933 (Not Ivar Kreuger as stated by Michael Hay in Bentley: The Vintage Years, but his brother).

It was given to The National Museum of Science and Technology in Stockholm in 1951 after they had for one year refused to accept the gift of Mr. Kreuger who was very fond of his car and clearly understood its technical / historical value. This saved the car from being scrapped. (Swedes are rational — 21 of 24 Silver Ghosts delivered here were scrapped as 14 of 14 Isotta-Fraschinis, 17 of 17 Hispano-Suizas and 2 of the 2 Duesenbergs.)

It is the most sporting and elegant sport saloon coachwork you might see. It has a very elaborate and masculine interior.

Chassis No. YF5009 was exhibited in the museum until c1998 and then put in storage. From c2003 it has been on loan to Sweden's best motor museum "Bil-och Teknikhistoriska Samlingarna i Köping" and is on display there.

 

YF 5009, registered in Sweden as A (Stockholm) 15749 at Strandvägen, a fashionable street in the center of Stockholm. Date of photo is not known but the cars shown are all late thirties cars - the small car seen on the opposite side of the street is a Lancia Aprilia. Thus, probably late 1930´s, but might be after the war in the late 1940´s before the car was given to the National Museum of Science and Technology in 1951. Except for renewal of tyres the car has not been restored or modified in any way - and might thus be the most original 8-litre in existance. The coachwork is absolutely right for an 8-litre - in all a magnificent car.