This Week @ Coys: Bentley’s Rolls Fighter

By Gunnar Heinrich

YOU are looking at what was in 1931 Bentley’s eight gun -er – liter shot across the bow of HMS Rolls-Royce. British auctioneer Coys of Kensington states that this Eight is mostly original – a good thing considering the model’s extraordinary place in Bentley history.

BusinessWeek nicely summarizes the importance of Bentley’s final pre-Rolls foray:

“Introduced at the London Motor Show in 1930, the Bentley 8-liter made an immediate impact. While the engine was an extension of the successful 6.5-liter engine that powered Bentleys to numerous race victories, the 8-liter was intended to knock Rolls-Royce from its pedestal,” the article read.

The hugely powerful Eight would run marathons at speeds exceeding 100 mph (Murcielago-level speed in its day). By sorry contrast, Rolls’ best could only struggle to reach 90 mph. This effectively meant that the Royce people up in Derby could sit on their hats for Team Bentley had managed what Rolls couldn’t.

Sad to say, the superior Eight faltered as Bentley’s main rival proved in reality to be the marque’s own bad timing.

The Great Depression had just silenced the Roaring Twenties and like some awful plague it proceeded to systemically dispatch the great and good marques of the early 20th Century.

W.O.’s company fell into insolvency shortly after the 100th Eight.

Rolls bought Bentley via hostile takeover. A checkered relationship ensued. The Eight lost its reason to be.

This particular Bentley, one of only 100 Eights left in the world, has seen the large part of the 20th Century and the collaboration and dissolution of the Rolls partnership. Now that its marque is now free from the double Rs and once again at odds, perhaps fate has handed this road-going battleship a new mission.

Coys is mum on the price (as usual), but according to BusinessWeek another Eight was sold last year at auction on Amelia Island for $962,500. The financial rag gave the Eight model it’s blessing with an “A” grade investment rating.

Right, hoist the rebel flag and ready the guns! We’re off to overtake Phantoms!

[Linked: BusinessWeek | Coys of Kensington]