Bentley Eight

Rolls-Royce had begun the revival of the Bentley marque as a high performance car with the introduction of the Mulsanne Turbo in 1982. 

Launched just two years later, the normally aspirated Eight was intended to attract a younger generation of buyers to the newly resurgent marque and proved a more sporting drive than its Mulsanne sibling thanks to specially stiffened front suspension and sharper steering.

Powered by Crewe's iconic 6.75 litre V8 engine mated to three-speed automatic transmission, it was capable of 130mph. Trading picnic tables and maple eye walnut for straight-grain wood veneers and a substantial price cut (£50,000 at launch), the Eight was a conspicuous success and went on to sell 1,736 examples worldwide before production ceased in 1992.

The 1987 example we offer today is the more desirable fuel injection model as opposed to the earlier carburettor version and also benfits from the later ABS brakes. The car has one or two interesting modifications from standard including a four headlamp conversion, turbo badge, chrome grille, flying ‘B’ motif on top of the radiator and lambswool over rugs.

According to the service book the car was converted to run on lead-free fuel in March 1989. It has covered a genuine 77,600 miles from new and is finished in original Windsor Blue with piped cream leather. The history file contains the car’s original service book plus a continuation book which between them contain no fewer than 19 service stamps, all but two at Rolls/Bentley main dealers, the last being done at 71,200 miles. All old MOT certificates back to 1995 further confirm the mileage and the car is due to have a fresh MOT before the sale.
 

These are lovely cars to drive or be driven in and this smart, impeccably maintained example looks huge value at the modest guide price suggested.