Found on Bonhams website on September 28, 2017

September 28, 2017: Sold for £779,900

Lot 237
CHICHESTER, GOODWOOD

1931 Bentley 8-Litre Sedanca de Ville
Coachwork by H J Mulliner
THE GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED SALE
Collector's Motor Cars and Automobilia
30 Jun 2017

Registration no. GT 18
Chassis no. YM 5034

*First owned by Lord Brougham & Vaux
*Outstandingly original
*Known ownership history
*The ultimate development of the W.O. Bentley
*Recent extensive refurbishment

Completed in May 1931 and the 59th of its type produced, Bentley 8-Litre chassis number 'YM 5034' was built to the 1931 specification, complete with F-type gearbox number '8060', and delivered to H J Mulliner in that same month. The engine (number 'YM 5034') was made to standard specification with 5.1:1 compression ratio, while the chassis itself was the long (13') wheelbase version. H J Mulliner's body was of the Sedanca de Ville type, a formal town-carriage design. The car was ordered new by Lord Brougham & Vaux, who at the same time also ordered a sporting two-seater 8-Litre, chassis number 'YR 5097' (no longer extant). His Lordship's Bentley Speed Six was taken in part exchange. Passed off final test on 18th August 1931, the 8-Litre was delivered to Lord Brougham & Vaux via Jack Barclay Ltd and issued with the London registration mark 'GT 18' in that same month. By this time Bentley Motors was already in receivership.

Coachbuilder H J Mulliner had plenty of experience of bodying the Bentley 8-Litre chassis, being responsible for nearly 25% of the production run. They were adept at producing well-balanced designs that succeeded, to a degree, in disguising the actual size of the lengthy chassis, as clearly demonstrated by this car. The Sedanca de Ville coachwork is enhanced by features such as the small 'helmet' style wings and pram irons adorning the rear quarters, all of which contribute to an elegance of style belying the 13' chassis beneath. When chauffeur driven, the car would have the (Barker patented) Sedanca De Ville extension open and the internal division raised, thereby emphasising the physical – and social – separation of the owner from his or her driver. With the extension closed and the division lowered, the Bentley transforms into a comfortable owner-driver car.

As one would expect of a coachbuilder long associated with marques of the highest quality, H J Mulliner equipped their products with luxurious appointments appropriate to such expensive chassis. Among other fittings, this 8-Litre's quite stunning interior – re-trimmed to the original pattern - is equipped with compact twin occasional seats which fold neatly into its central division, a cocktail cabinet and vanity units (see illustrated Hay Report on file).

Lord Brougham & Vaux kept the 8-Litre for approximately one year, during which time it covered some 10,000-or-so miles. The car then passed to Mr F W Keddie, a wealthy businessman from Southend-on-Sea, Essex, whose family kept it until the outbreak of WW2, if not later (see photograph in Hay Report). The Bentley is believed to have passed to one of the Keddies' sons before leaving the family's ownership. Throughout this time, servicing was documented in Bentley factory records, which note a total pre-war mileage of around 72,500. No major work was carried out on the Bentley pre-war.

By 1954 the car was the property of Dr A W O Taylor, from whom it was purchased by the renowned collector John Sword of East Balgray in 1957. The 8-Litre was included in the first Sword Collection dispersal sale in 1962 (Lot 94). It was sold for £400 to a C G Waite, who kept the car until 1965 when it was purchased by J Landless. In 1986 the Bentley was purchased by W G Lassiter of Florida, and left the UK, remaining in America ownership until the early 1990s (the second, and last, American owner recorded is Mrs C W Lampert from December 1987). Various restoration works were commissioned while the car was in the USA, including a full mechanical rebuild and cosmetic refurbishment of the body, paintwork, and interior.

In the early 1990s, 'YM 5034' passed into the ownership of Alan C Prince of Leatherhead, Surrey. In Mr Prince's enthusiastic ownership the 8-Litre was used regularly and fastidiously maintained, as evidenced by bills on file approaching some £30,000 in total, mostly from marque specialists McKenzie Guppy & Sons. In 1994 it was awarded the Connolly Trophy at the Hurlingham Concours for 'Best Interior'.

The Bentley passed into the immediately preceding ownership early in 2005 and has since benefited from an engine rebuild, including the installation of new pistons, undertaken by marque specialists Neil Davies Historic Racing (NDR) in August 2006 at a cost exceeding £6,000 (bill on file). As well as the aforementioned service/maintenance invoices, the comprehensive history file also contains ownership notes, copies of the factory records, an original Bentley 8-Litre handbook, and the aforementioned Hay Report. Typically thorough, the latter confirms that 'YM 5034' remains in outstandingly original condition, and Bonhams recommends that prospective purchasers should take the time to read it.

The 8-Litre was purchased by the current private-collector owner at Bonhams' Olympia auction in December 2008 (Lot 651). Since then it has been used sparingly, being driven for less than 1000 miles; it has nevertheless wanted for nothing, being routinely serviced and benefiting from extensive refurbishment at the hands of marque specialists Sergeants of Goudhurst Ltd, and James E Pearce Coachbuilders. Works undertaken include replacing the roof and Sedanca section; making a new tool tray to fit beneath the driver's seat, with a full compliment of correct tools; removing the wheel discs and repainting the wheels in red, moving the spare wheel to the nearside front wing; and a bare-metal repaint in black with red coachline. The latter work being carried out to make the car look just as it had when new, as shown in a photograph found of the car in 1932. Details of these works are on file, and the car also comes with a quantity of spares to include the original mechanical cooling fan and drive belt and an original (restored) jack.

This car's Sedanca de Ville body was the only one of its type built by H J Mulliner on the Bentley 8-Litre chassis, and 'YM 5034' is the sole survivor of the six Sedanca-bodied 8-Litres made. A therefore unique and quite magnificent example, this beautiful 8-Litre is presented in very good order and would be most welcome at all the many celebrations planned to celebrate Bentley's 100th centenary in 2019.

Sold: May 4, 2015

The sole survivor of its kind and formerly the property of The Sword Collection

1931 Bentley 8-Litre Sedanca de Ville

Coachwork by H.J. Mulliner & Co.
Chassis No. YM5034
Engine No. YM5034
Registration No. GT 18 (UK)

The Bentley 8-Litre offered for sale here, Chassis No. YM 5034, was ordered new through Jack Barclay of Mayfair by Lord Brougham & Vaux and first registered 'GT 18'. The chassis was completed in May 1931, delivered to H.J. Mulliner & Co. and fitted with Sedanca de Ville Coachwork.

After just one year 'GT 18' passed from Lord Brougham & Vaux to the Keddie family (of Essex department store fame) and was used extensively by them until it was eventually sold during the 1940s. In 1957 it was purchased by John Sword and remained in The Sword Collection until the dispersal sale in 1962. Having passed through a number of collectors in both the UK and USA, it returned to England during the 1990s.

Now offered for sale from a private British collection this exceptional 1931 Bentley 8-Litre is the sole surviving Sedanca de Ville. Chassis No. YM 5034 retains all of its major mechanical components from the factory and still carries the original Coachwork fitted by H.J. Mulliner & Co. in 1931. In recent years "GT 18" has been restored and maintained by noted UK marque specialists including: Neil Davies Racing, Sargeants of Goudhurst and James E. Pearce Coachbuilders.

'GT 18' has recently been inspected by Dr. Clare Hay, the marque specialist and international authority on W.O. Bentleys, and a detailed report of her findings is available for inspection together with the extensive history file offered for sale with the car. It is eligible for many of the world’s top Concours D’Elegance events as well as numerous international tours and rallies.

1931 Bentley 8-Litre Sedanca de Ville
Coachwork by H J Mulliner; Registration no. GT 18; Chassis no. YM 5034; Engine no. YM 5034

Completed in May 1931 and the 59th of its type produced, Bentley 8-Litre chassis number ‘YM 5034’ was built to the 1931 specification, complete with F-type gearbox number ‘8060’, and delivered to H J Mulliner in that same month. The engine (number ‘YM 5034’) was made to standard specification with 5:1 compression ratio, while the chassis itself was the long (13”) wheelbase version. H J Mulliner’s body was of the Sedanca de Ville type, a formal town carriage design. The car was ordered new by Lord Brougham and Vaux, who at the same time also ordered a sporting two-seater 8-Litre, chassis number ‘YR 5097’ (no longer extant). Passed off final test on 18th August 1931, the Bentley was delivered to Lord Brougham and Vaux and issued with the London registration mark ‘GT 18’ in that same month.

Coachbuilder H J Mulliner had plenty of experience of bodying the Bentley 8-Litre chassis, being responsible for nearly 25% of the production run. They were adept at producing well balanced designs that succeeded, to a degree, in disguising the actual size of the lengthy chassis, as clearly demonstrated by this car. The Sedanca de Ville coachwork is enhanced by features such as the small ‘helmet’ style wings, rear mounted trunk and spare wheel, and pram irons adorning the rear quarters, all of which contribute to an elegance of style belying the 13’ chassis beneath.

As one would expect of a coachbuilder long associated with marques of the highest quality, H J Mulliner equipped their products with luxurious appointments appropriate to such expensive chassis. Amongst other fittings, this 8-Litre’s quite stunning interior is equipped with compact twin occasional seats which fold neatly into its central division, a cocktail cabinet, vanity units, and a tool tray - complete with a full complement of tools - that is stowed discreetly in the top of the trunk.

Lord Brougham and Vaux kept the 8-Litre for approximately one year, during which time it covered some 10,000-or-so miles. It then passed to one F W Keddie of Southend-on-Sea who kept it up until the outbreak of WW2, if not later. Throughout this time servicing was documented on Bentley factory records, which note a total pre-war mileage of around 70,000. No major work was carried out on the Bentley pre-war. Indeed, as far as is known, it has never been modified or altered in any way.

By 1954 the car was the property of Dr A W O Taylor, from whom it was purchased by the renowned collector John Sword, of East Balgray in 1957. The 8-Litre was included in the first Sword Collection dispersal sale in 1962 (Lot 94). It was sold for £400 to a C G Waite, who kept the car until 1965 when it was purchased by J Landless. In 1986 the Bentley was purchased by W G Lassiter, of Florida and left the UK, remaining in America ownership until the early 1990s (the second, and last, American owner recorded is Mrs C W Lampert from December 1987). Various restoration works were commissioned while the car was in the USA, including a full mechanical rebuild and cosmetic refurbishment of the body, paintwork and interior.

In the early 1990s, ‘YM 5034’ passed into the ownership of Alan C Prince, of Leatherhead, Surrey. In Mr Prince’s enthusiastic ownership the 8-Litre was used regularly and fastidiously maintained, as evidenced by bills on file approaching some £30,000 in total, mostly from marque specialists McKenzie Guppy & Sons. In 1994 it was awarded the Connolly Trophy at the Hurlingham Concours for ‘Best Interior’.

The Bentley passed into the current ownership early in 2005 and has since benefited from an engine rebuild, including the installation of new pistons, undertaken by marque specialists Neil Davies Historic Racing (NDR) in August 2006 at a cost exceeding £6,000 (bill on file). As well as the aforementioned service/maintenance invoices, the comprehensive history file also contains ownership notes, copies of the factory records and its original 8-Litre handbook. The car is currently taxed/MoT’d and comes with Swansea V5 document.

This car’s Sedanca de Ville body was the only one of its type built by H J Mulliner on the Bentley 8-Litre chassis, and ‘YM 5034’ is the sole survivor of the six Sedanca-bodied 8-Litres made. A therefore unique and quite magnificent example, it is presented in very good order and ready to use.

Note on Bonhams website on Feb 2, 2009: Sold for £342,500 inclusive of Buyer's Premium.

Eight Litre Bentley Mulliner Sedanca de Ville painting by Peter Miller Bonhams London 2008

BDC Silverstone, 2006

Bentley 8 Litre Sedanca de Ville by H.J. Mulliner - 1931

Black and ivory with brown hide interior. The only 8 Litre made with this coachwork.