Sold For €680,000

1931 8-Litre Vintage Bentley chassis no. YR5094 at BDC Silverstone 2016

8 litre Bentley
Registration Number: NLH 43 ~ Chassis No: YR5094 ~ Engine number: YR5094
Price: £780,000

History
This magnificent 8-litre is one of only 100 cars produced by W.O. Bentley of which only approximately 80 survive.

The car was originally produced as a Thrupp and Maberly limousine and sent directly to Singapore where it was used by a Chinese Mau owner, who used it to visit the races with his girlfriends (the car became known as the Harem Saloon). It was walled up in a mine during the War and after it finished was sent to England in the late 40s. The new owner, a Peter Quinn, gave the car its first registeration number NLH 43 which the car retains today. He removed the original body but kept the original bonnet and scuttle from the car. The next owner, a Peter Morley shortened the chassis to 10' 10" and raced the car very successfully. It was then sold to a farmer, Mr Posnett, who took the car to pieces and re-lengthened her to 12' where the car sat until 2002. The car was then bought by the present owner John Cobbing in 2002 who undertook the rebuild and restoration and re-bodied it as a gentleman’s tourer.

She now sports an open style body with Gurney Nutting style wings When the car was picked up from the previous owner a (Mr Posnit) it was completely dismantled and in various places of his work shop. There was no sign of the body or front part of the scuttle so we would presume it has been disposed of.

The car was returned to our workshop where the owner decided to design and restore the car as a gentleman’s open tourer. The car has had a new set of helmet wings designed in a Gurney Nutting style.

The chassis was rebuilt with new bushes pins etc. and re-piped with its original one shot lubrication system, re-wired and restored to its original specifications.

Work carried out during restoration:

Engine
The engine was rebuilt with new valves, valve guides, new water pump, new front and rear water plates, new oil drain tubes etc.

New bottom three throw drive gear. The original crank was kept due to its amazing condition. This was fully checked and sorted, and the main bearings on the crank shaft were cleaned up and ground to approx. 0.012" under size. Then new bronzes were made and re-white metal was done. A decision was taken to use new connecting rods and put them on modern shells, giving the car the best of both worlds. A complete new clutch lining and discs were fitted. All new bearings were used and the crank case and sump was machined for modern oil seals replacing the leakey acme threads.

The carburettors were striped and rebuilt with new jets, needled, cork washers etc.

The auto vac was striped and restored fitting new valves and seals, internal mechanism etc.

The magneto was re-built by the renowned magneto expert Tony Stairs.

A new coil, points, condenser were fitted and the distributor overhauled.

Gear Box
The gear box was striped and condition checked. All the gears were found to be in excellent condition. All new bearings were used in the rebuild of the gear box.

Rear Axle
The rear axle was dismantled and the nose piece was removed. It was then stripped and inspected. A new crown wheel and pinion was designed and fitted. The car now boasts a 3.21 : 1 ratio. This gives the car very good long legs on the motorway and also around the country lanes without the need of an overdrive. New half shafts were fitted and new wheel bearings, etc.

Front Axle
The front axle was stripped and new king pins and bushes were fitted. Stub axles were crack tested which came back okay. New wheel bearings and felt washers etc.

Steering Column
The steering column was dismantled and rebuilt with all new bearings. The condition was found to be excellent.

Servo
The servo was dismantled and found to require a new leather seal and brass fingered disc underneath. All components were cleaned and the servo full overhauled.

Exhaust System
A new exhaust system was made with a 3" straight through as per original design. The silencer was made straight through with a centre baffle.

Wheels
Two original wheels were restored with new outer rims and spokes, then 4 new wheels were commissioned and built up to order.

Radiator
The radiator was fully restored with a new core and re-chromed on the shell.

Two new Kenlowe fans were fitted to help with cooling. The car still retains its original fan assembly although not fitted at the present time.

Summing up
Since the complete restoration the present owner has enjoyed numerus trips down to Le Mans where the car was able to stretch her legs. We were told she behaved impeccably with no problems.

We ourselves have had the pleasure of driving her to several BDC events, where the car again preformed perfectly.

The present owner has now decided, at the age of 78, that he would like to pass the car on to a new custodian, so it may be used to its full potential.

Bentley Drivers Club Silverstone, August 2016

"Pictures of John Cobbing's magnificent 8L which I took at the Chateau d'O in Northern France in 2014."

This car is presently owned by John Cobbing.

"Herewith a photograph I took of my friend John Cobbing's car, which you are welcome to use on your website. This is 8 Litre YR5094, Reg No NLH 43 taken at BDC Silverstone 2010." (John Cobbing also owns chassis NT3149.)

In England in 2006 / Owned by a BDC member

"Dear VintageBentleys.org, I have been trawling through my Vintage Bentley files and came across the attached photo of the chassis YR5094 which I took in 2002. The location was the farm of a Mr Posnett. I hope this will be useful addition to the car's history file. It saddens me to think that as soon as the car complete with its original limousine coachwork by Thrupp and Maberly arrived in the U.K circa 1951, the body was removed and the car turned into a two seater racer. From my notes I see that Pope's Garage of Anson Road Singapore had built and installed a cocktail cabinet in the car sometime earlier. It was Freddy Pope of Pope's Garage who arranged the shipment to U.K in circa 1951.

I am seeking photos of YR5094 with its original Thrupp and Maberly coachwork. Can anyone out there help?"

"Peter Morley with NLH 43 in 2 seater form. at Layer Marney Tower (not sure when)."