Vintage Bentley
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Bentleys
1931 Bentley 8 Litre 12 Coupe De Ville
Chassis No. YR5085
Engine No. YR5085
Registration No. No info
July 31, 2019
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Source: Sports Car Digest
Posted: Oct 3, 2019
May 31, 2011
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This vehicle is the only Bentley to be clothed with an American-Made Body. Chassis YR5085 was special ordered on February 13,th 1931 by C.H Mattheisen Jr of Santa Barbara. It was then sent to Walter M. Murphy company in Pasadena, Ca for its unique 2 door Victoria body. Designed by Franklin Hershey. It's lines are clean and simple, it does bare some styling cues from Murphy such as its long hood, flowing beaded fenders, hoodline and rakish angled windshield which were trademarks of Hershey's design. Only 100 8 litre Bentleys were built and were among the most powerful cars of their day.
Of the 100 8-litre Bentleys built 35 were on a 145-inch wheelbase and 65 were on the 153inch wheelbase. Very few of the original 8 litres were open car: fewer still were two door open Victorias. This vehicle is on short wheel base, and the coachwork was crafted out of alloy without using a wooden substructure much like contemporary English coachbuilders.
Although any 8 litre Bentley is considered rare and highly desirable this may be the rarest and most desirable of all, It is a one-off All-Alloy short wheelbase that was bodied in the USA. It is only 1 of 6 open 2 door examples.
Matthiessen owned the car for some 16 years. In 2007, a more recent restoration was completed and it was shown at the 2007 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
Source: The San Diego Collection
Posted: Jun 30, 2011
April 30, 2009
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1931 Bentley 8-Litre Murphy Convertible Victoria Chassis Number: YR5085 Although any 8-Litre Bentley is considered rare, this Murphy Convertible Victoria is perhaps the rarest of them all. Of the 100 8-litre Bentley chassis produced, this is the only one of this famous series to have been fitted, when new, with an American body. On February 13, 1931, C.H. Matthiessen, Jr., of Santa Barbara, Ca. ordered Chassis YR5085, and commissioned the Walter M. Murphy company in Pasadena to design and build a two-door convertible body for his Bentley. Designed by Franklin Hershey, the body had very clean lines. It bared some of the celebrated Murphy styling cues such as the long, flowing beaded-edge fenders, hood line and a rakish angled windshield, which were trademarks of a Hershey design. Also unique for a Bentley was its all-metal construction. Matthiessen owned the car for some 16 years. In 2007, a more recent restoration was completed and it was shown at the 2007 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
Source: The San Diego Collection
Posted: May 18, 2009
August 2, 2008
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Of one hundred 8 Litres built, this was the only one bodied in the United States, by Murphy of Pasadena. It was special ordered by a man in Santa Barbara, California. The designer was Franklin Hershey. This is one of only six open two-door 8 Litres.
This Bentley was part of a featured display of 8 Litre Bentleys and won Best in Class."
Source: Flickr, posted by user 'Steve Brown'
Posted: Apr 7, 2015
July 31, 2008
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Meadow Brook Concours, 2008
Source: Flickr, posted by user 'Richard Spiegelman'
Posted: May 29, 2015
June 30, 2008
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Although any 8-Litre Bentley is considered rare, this Murphy Convertible Victoria is perhaps the rarest of them all. Of the 100 8-litre Bentley chassis produced, this is the only one of this famous series to have been fitted, when new, with an American body.
On February 13, 1931, C.H. Matthiessen, Jr., of Santa Barbara, Ca. ordered Chassis YR5085, and commissioned the Walter M. Murphy company in Pasadena to design and build a two-door convertible body for his Bentley. Designed by Franklin Hershey, the body had very clean lines. It bared some of the celebrated Murphy styling cues such as the long, flowing beaded-edge fenders, hood line and a rakish angled windshield, which were trademarks of a Hershey design. Also unique for a Bentley was its all-metal construction. Matthiessen owned the car for some 16 years. In 2007, a more recent restoration was completed and it was shown at the 2007 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
Source: Blackhawk Collection
Posted: Jul 12, 2008
January 10, 2008
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View video here.
Source: YouTube
Posted: May 5, 2009
2008
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Source: Flickr, posted by user 'sjb4photos' Getty Images, and A.G. Arao
Posted: Jun 25, 2011
2006
Posted: Jan 1, 0001
April 30, 1982
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Source: Robert McLellan
Posted: Aug 11, 2006
1970
Source: Olle Ljungström
Posted: Jan 24, 2008
1970
Source: Olle Ljungström
Posted: Jan 24, 2008
1968
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Source: Motoring My Way by Stanley Sedgwick
Posted: Jul 11, 2014
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Source: Rolls-Royce & Bentley: Classic Elegance by Paul W. Cockerham, 1999
Posted: Feb 5, 2007
Earliest Record Of Historical Facts & Information
| Chassis No. | YR5085 |
|---|---|
| Engine No. | YR5085 |
| Registration No. | No info |
| Date of Delivery: | 31 Jan 1931 |
| Type of Body: | Coupe De Ville |
| Coachbuilder: | Murphy |
| Type of Car: | 12 |
| First Owner: | C.H. Matthiessen, Jr |
| More Info: | Michael Hay, in his book Bentley: The Vintage Years, 1997, states: "F/8032. In Mexico fitted Diamond T lorry engine. Now rebuilt and back in America with 8 Litre engine refitted, in Imperial Palace Collection in Las Vegas." |
Mar 1, 2007