1932 Bentley 4/8-Litre Tourer

1932 Bentley 4/8-Litre Tourer 1932 Bentley 4/8-Litre Tourer Registration Number: GT 8776 Chassis Number: VF4008 Engine Number: WK2665 Estimate £280,000-320,000 With their ultra-desirable running gear based on the 8-Litre chassis, many 4-Litre Bentleys were converted into specials using the more traditional and often more powerful WO Bentley engines. GT 8776 is one such car, having started life as a standard 4-Litre in January 1932, it originally wore HJ Mulliner saloon coachwork. Many decades ago, this body was removed and, according to Michael Hay, reinstated on a Rolls-Royce Phantom II. Apparently dismantled by the late 1960s, it was later rejuvenated and rebodied with a curvaceous Vanden Plas body, in which form Alex Tanner bought the car. Discovering the coachwork was not best suited to his intended trips overseas and with the 4-Litre running gear widely regarded as the ultimate 'blank canvas' for the basis of that mythical beast, the 'Le Mans-style 8-Litre', Alex Tanner instructed specialists, VBE Restorations, to create for him such a car from VF4008. The 4-Litre's major components have remained together, but with the addition of a powerhouse of an 8-Litre engine. The engine is based on a 6 ½-Litre, formerly fitted to a William Arnold saloon, and had been on loan to, and displayed at the BDC HQ. A rebuild to 8-Litre specification, with a new crankshaft with modern shells, special rods, crankcase conversion and opening up the crankcase to suit 110mm pistons, was carried out by Elmdon Vintage Automobiles Ltd. Clearly constructed to a very high specification, the 8-Litre has been used since 2010 for extensive touring on the Continent, including almost annual trips on the 'Downs' Vintage Bentley Tours of France. Finished in very dark British Racing Green, the coachwork is in Vanden Plas-style 'Le Mans' four-seat tourer configuration, with fabric-covered body, cycle wings, leather bonnet straps and quick-release radiator cap. Headlights are large diameter, top-quality Carl Zeiss. The green leather interior with green carpeting is in lovely condition and just starting to mellow. The rear seats were removed to provide extra luggage space and, now refitted, show hardly any use. Matching door cards feature a raised 'B' detail and the steering wheel is string-bound. The engine bay is in wonderfully presented condition and obviously dominated by the near-monolithic triple-carburettored engine. Bills on file refer to further engine work being undertaken to the cam damper and to improve the cooling system by NDR Ltd. in 2017. A small quantity of paperwork is present with the car together with a current V5C Registration Certificate. Lots 50-61 are subject to Buyer’s Premium at 12.5% plus VAT at 20%