1931 Bentley 8 Litre - Ex-HRH The Duke of Kent
Registration Number: 674 XUK
Chassis Number: YR5087

The pinnacle of W.O. Bentley’s fabled engineering, and earlier Le Mans success culminated in what was the most sophisticated and developed of his Big 6’s with the production of the 8 Litre. ­In running chassis form alone costing £1850, as much, if not more than its rivals in Hispana Suiza and Rolls-Royce and with coachwork costing an additional £800-£1000, these motor cars were only available to the most exclusive and wealthiest of buyers.

Only 100 of these mighty cars were ever produced. Chassis YR5087, being originally sold to H.R.H. The Duke of Kent, who was already a Bentley client who commissionined Thrupp and Maberly coachbuilders for the vehicle’s coachwork.

By the 1970s, YR5087 was in need of refurbishment and the rebuild was undertaken using the leading Bentley specialist of the day, Tony Townsend, who rebuilt the 8 Litre throughout.

YR5087 was then purchased in the late 1970s by the well known Bentley collector Bob Keeler, who also owned a 4½ Blower Bentley at the same time, however preferring the 8 Litre above his 4½, and for the following 25 years used YR5087 on many national and international rallies, including several trips through Europe and twice to South Africa with the Bentley Drivers Club, only letting YR5087 go due to illness some years ago.

Today this fabulous 8 Litre is offered for sale, resplendent in its sporting full four seat touring coachwork, with long range Le Mans petrol tank, helmet wings, fold down windscreen and full weather equipment.

All recent mechanical services and other works have been undertaken through Bentley specialist N.D.R. This is a rare opportunity to acquire an extremely important 8 Litre W.O Bentley in superb condition ready for any of the many events that this mighty Bentley is eligible to compete in.

This car is for sale as of Apr 13, 2011 at Coys.
This car is for sale as of Jun 27, 2011 at Coys.

This is the 1931 HRH Duke of Kent car which has formed part of the Keeler collection for decades. The car is fully matching with original engine, gearbox et, and has been well-known to the vintage Bentley market for many, many years.

In England in 2006 / Owned by a BDC member

"A picture of this car appeared in the "Weekly Sketch" of 8 July 1931, taken when Prince George, later the Duke of Kent, visited the Shaftesbury Retreat, Loughton on 23 June 1931. If you are interested, I could send you a copy of the photo."