The 69th annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, August 2019.

Salon Rétromobile - Paris, February 2017

Found on Charles S. Crail Automobiles website
Date of publication of the information below is not known.

Stock: 918

1931 Bentley 8-Litre Vanden Plas 2-Door Sport Tourer
Chassis: YR5095
Engine No: YR5095
English Registration No: GP401

Very rare short chassis. Completely original and in exceptional condition. Two owners since new:- first owner Woolf Barnato commissioned for his honeymoon tour. Second owner since 1933. Fold down windscreen, dual rear mounted spares, complete tool set, fitted luggage, original Barnato registration. Full mechanical history. This 8-Litre Bentley was supplied to Captain Woolf Barnato, chairman of Bentley Motors Limited, in June of 1931. He had the Bentley shipped to California and drove it around the United States on his honeymoon. In 1936 this Bentley was invited by Autocar to the Festival of Speed at Brooklands and was filmed going over 100 miles per hour. The engine was overhauled in 1946 by Rolls-Royce and then again by MacKenzie Guppy (who incidentally built the 8-Litre that held the Land Speed record). The car is completely original and in excellent order. The body and subframe are extremely sound. All the plated trims were made of copper at the special request of Barnato and are as good today as when they were made. It was fitted with a French pillar-swivel spotlight and horn for Barnato. All the numbers are correct. It has fitted luggage, all tools, and the original logbook signed by Woolf Barnato and Reggie Presland. This is undoubtedly the finest original example of a W.O. Bentley. There was a similar car made that was owned by Ted Wright. Mr. Wright turned down an offer of $1 million in 1989 and then sold the car in 1993 for $800,000. A chance of a lifetime to own one of the world's great Bentleys.

Pebble Beach, 2010

1931 Bentley 8 Litre Short Chassis Vanden Plas 4-Seat Tourer YR5095
YR5095-1931 Bentley 8 Litre Short Chassis Vanden Plas 4-Seat Tourer. Commissioned by Bentley Motors chairman Woolf Barnato for his honeymoon in the USA. Unique features include fold down windscreen, dual rear mounted spares, complete tool set, fitted luggage and a French pillar-swivel spotlight. At the request of Barnato, all the brightwork was done in copper. Invited by Autocar to the 1936 Festival of Speed at Brooklands and it reached over 100 mph. Recently sold by Charles Crail Automobiles who described it as "undoubtedly the finest original example of a W.O. Bentley" and "A chance of a lifetime to own one of the world's great Bentleys." Subsequently restored for Peter G. Livanos and displayed at the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours.

Rolex Tour d'Excellance 2009

GP401 at BDC Concours, 2008

"I hired this car in July 1996 as our Wedding car. Peter Presland was the kind and lovely owner and he chauffeured us from Ramsgate to Sandwich for our reception. I wished for the perfect car for our perfect day. We definitely had it!!"

This is Woolf Barnato's 8-litre tourer. It is surrounded by much history including the fact that Barnato used this car for his honeymoon.

My Grandfather’s Bentley
This picture was taken in 1933. It shows Alex’s (From Society’s Choice) grandfather’s Bentley (8-litre from 1931). His grandmother is in the back seat. The picture was taken in Birchington, Kent, South East England.

The car is still in the family today and is owned by an uncle, who drives friend’s kids to their weddings, in the summer, as a treat for them and to keep the engine ticking over. It is absolutely beautiful and such a thrill to go for a drive in it.