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1931 Bentley 8 Litre
Chassis No. YX5122
Engine No. YX5123
Registration No. GT 8780
 
1999
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Photograph was taken during Italy's Lakeside Concours d'Elegance in 1999.

 
     
     
  Source: "Queste" magazine, Autumn 1999
Posted: Dec 20, 2006
 
     
May 1989
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YX5122 (1931 8 Litre, Vanden Plas (England) drophead coupe - Owner: T Reich

Seen here at a joint RROC/CCCA kite flying picnic meet at Ft. Casey on Whidbey Island, Washington, in May, 1989, are representatives of two of the greatest models built. If you could own but one of these two spectacular specimens, how would you decide which? Drive them both, then pick the Phantom II not for its sheer performance where the 8 Litre clearly scores best, but for the sweetness of the steering and gear change and the overall lightness of the car. Someone once said that the 8 Litre has what could be called a 'thinking man's gearbox'. They are both 12 foot chassis; both have their original coachwork -- one from England, one from Brussels, hence the two spellings.

 
     
     
  Source: The Flying Lady, March-April 1990
From article 'The 8 Litre Bentley: Phantom II Rival?' Ted Reich, RROC past President, forwarded copies of many original Company memos which he found in the Sir Henry Royce Foundation Archives in England. provided photos from his personal archive, several of which are from the period and taken by Charles Bowers, one of the best known original photographers. As you read these memos, you can feel the tension of the times...
Posted: Jun 25, 2013
 
     
1987
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"The Queen Mary's presence was felt throughout the Meet. Here she forms an appropriate Art Deco background for Ted Reich's 8 litre Vanden Plas tourer, YX5122 — best in the Vintage Bentley class and winner of the Vintage Bentley Longest Distance Award. YX5122 motored down from Pebble Beach, where she had won the 8 litre class." — From the article 'The Perfect 36: 1987 National Meet, Long Beach, California' by Phil Brooks

 
     
     
  Source: The Flying Lady, November-December 1987
Posted: Aug 01, 2013
 
     
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  Source: Rolls-Royce: Fact and Legend, C. S. Shoup, 1988
Posted: Oct 05, 2007
 
     
EARLIEST RECORD OF HISTORICAL FACTS & INFORMATION
 
Chassis No. YX5122
Engine No. YX5123
Registration No. GT 8780
Date of Delivery: Feb 1932
Type of Body: 4-seater
Coachbuilder: Vanden Plas
Type of Car: 12
   
First Owner: SPRATT H D
 
     
  More Info: According to original Vanden Plas Coachbuilder records, this car was originally fitted with Body No. 1736 with a short wheelbase 2-door, 4-seater silent bloc; black; 1/1932.

Michael Hay, in his book Bentley: The Vintage Years, 1997, states: "F/8138. Vanden Plas body no. 1736. In USA with original body."
 
     
     
  Updated: Jul 06, 2007
Posted: Mar 01, 2007
 
     
 
 
 
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Sep 30, 2020 - Info and photograph received from Simon Hunt for Chassis No. RL3439
Sep 30, 2020 - Info and photographs received from Dick Clay for Chassis No. 147
Sep 29, 2020 - Info and photographs received from Ernst Jan Krudop for his Chassis No. AX1651
Sep 28, 2020 - Info and photographs received from Lars Hedborg for his Chassis No. KL3590
Sep 25, 2020 - Info and photograph added for Registration No. XV 3207
Sep 24, 2020 - Info and photograph added for Registration No. YM 7165
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