Bentley 8 Litre

Bentley 8 Litre chassis
Weymann saloon by Mulliner the second car made and
W. O. Bentley's personal transport
Overview
ManufacturerBentley Motors Limited
Production
  • 1930–1932
  • 100 produced
AssemblyCricklewood, London
DesignerW. O. Bentley
Body and chassis
ClassLuxury car
Body stylepurchaser to arrange with own coachbuilder[1]
LayoutFR layout[2]
RelatedBentley 4-Litre (economy version)
Powertrain
EngineSOHC 8 L I6[3]
Transmission
  • Manual gearbox, 4-speeds and reverse
  • Single-dry-plate clutch
  • Hypoid bevel final drive
[4]
Dimensions
Wheelbase
  • 138 in (3,505 mm)[5] (3 only)
  • 134 in (3,404 mm)[2]
  • 140 in (3,556 mm)[2]
Length
  • 201.25 in (5,112 mm)
  • 213.25 in (5,417 mm)
Width68.5 in (1,740 mm)[2]
Heightdepending on coachwork
Kerb weight2.5 tonnes (5500 lb.) or more, depending on coachwork
Bentley 8-litre engine
Overview
Production1930–1932
Layout
Configuration6-cylinder in-line
Displacement7,983 cubic centimetres (487 cu in)
Cylinder bore110 mm (4.3 in)
Piston stroke140 mm (5.5 in)
Cylinder block material
Cylinder head materialnon-detachable – see block
Valvetrainsingle overhead camshaft driven by patented triple connecting rods; 4-valves-per-cylinder[3]
Compression ratio5:1
Combustion
Fuel system
[3]
Fuel typepetrol
Cooling systemWater-cooled, with pump, fan and thermostatically-controlled shutters[3]
Output
Power output
  • 220 bhp (160 kW; 220 PS) @3,300rpm
  • Tax rating 44.9 hp[6]

The Bentley 8 Litre was a large inline 6-cylinder super-luxury car made in various configurations by Bentley Motors Limited at Cricklewood, London. Announced 15 September 1930, it was also the last completely new model by Bentley before the company's financial collapse and forced sale to Rolls-Royce Limited.

A Bentley 4 Litre featuring a 4-Litre Inline-6 engine in a shortened chassis was announced on 15 May 1931.

Introduced a year into the Great Depression. the 8-litre and its smaller 4-litre sibling were unable to turn the company's finances around. Less than nine months after the 8-litre's introduction, Bentley Motors was placed into receivership.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference VBO was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference TTDA was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference TO was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference TTB was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Eybl 2001, pp. 192–197.
  6. ^ RAC Rating