• Full Bentley service history

 • Genuine low mileage

 • Very original car

Introduced as the “entry-level” model in Bentley’s range, the Eight was based on the Mulsanne and offered slightly less equipment than its sister car, but the same effortless performance and unmatched luxury. 

Produced from 1984 to 1992, with a couple of very minor facelifts during that time, the Eight was a real sales success for Bentley, proving especially popular in America.

This particular model has had just four owners from new. First registered in March 1989 to London PLC, it has been in the ownership of its current keeper since April 2012. 

Benefitting from a full Bentley service history and high specification, this low mileage car has covered less than 1,500 miles since 2016 and is ready to be enjoyed by a new owner.

It is only now being offered for sale due to the owner lacking space to store the car after purchasing a new vehicle.

Alongside the current V5 and MOT certificate (which runs to November 2022), the car comes with a full Bentley service history, which is stored digitally but also provided by the owner as a series of print-outs. 

The handbooks are present and correct in their original leather wallet, and are all in very nice condition. There are a few receipts also in the file, detailing maintenance work that has been carried out recently. The car currently wears a private plate, which is not included in the sale.

Bentley cars during the 1980s were about one thing and one thing only: luxury. Mountains of luxury. And the way they provide that luxury is with acres of space in the light and airy cabin, lovely quality leather and wood covering every surface, deep-pile carpets cosseting your feet and the ability to hold a whispered conversation eve at motorway cruising speeds.

This example is very original and presented with a lovely specification. The Parchment leather trim of the seats and door cards features body-coordinated black piping and is in very good condition. As you’d expect from a 33 year old car, there is some light wear evident – mostly on the driver’s seat – but overall it looks excellent, with no tears, threading or significant wear. It could do with a professional valet, as could the carpets, but otherwise provides the kind of luxurious comfort you’d expect from a Bentley. 

Complementing the leather, the cabin carpets are oatmeal-coloured and in good condition, as are the contrasting bespoke black mats. The headlining is likewise in excellent condition, with no rips, wear or sagging evident.

As befits such a vehicle, there are a raft of creature comforts such as powered windows and mirrors, powered memory seats, air conditioning, analogue dials (which are lovely to see in an age of digital screens), and a modern Pioneer CD/Radio system. The owner assures us that everything works exactly as it should, with no issues.

The boot area in the Bentley Eight is very generous, certainly enough for a couple of large suitcases with room to spare. Overall the boot area is in good condition, although the boot carpet is quite soiled and does need a proper valet. The edging on the boot carpet is also peeling, but this is a relatively minor issue that can be easily sorted.

Words that sprint to mind when you look at the Bentley Eight are ‘solidity’ and ‘tradition’. They’ve always looked like they’ve been carved rather than built, which is a testament to the, quite accurate, impression of quality they convey. Constructed using a pressed steel monocoque design, with alloy door skins, bonnet and boot lid to help manage the weight – although it still weighs in at a reassuringly robust 2.5 tonnes.

This 1989 model benefits from the mild facelift which changed the original rectangular headlamps for twin round units, which we think look much better either side of that classic mesh grille. Finished in metallic black paintwork and lots of brightwork, externally the car is very original. All of the body panels, trim, badges, lights and other external elements are in good condition, straight and honest. 

The paintwork would benefit from a machine polish, but otherwise looks very good, with only some minor marks and swirls. It should be noted that there are a couple of areas of bubbling paintwork – one around the Bentley badge on the boot lid, and another around the driver-side door lock. It appears to be minor at the moment, but is something a new owner may want to address.

The wheels are the standard Bentley Eight 15-inch items, shod in Avon white wall tyres and all largely in fine condition. A couple of the wheels have minor scuffs, but there is no significant damage.

Underneath, the car looks very solid and straight, with no evidence of damage or significant corrosion. It all appears very original with only light surface corrosion on some of the suspension components, which is what you’d expect from any car of this age.

If you’ve never encountered the 6.75-litre pushrod V8 that powers the Bentley Eight, then be assured of one thing – there is no finer way to push a classic luxury saloon along. Featuring an aluminium block and head with fuel injection, it offers legendary reliability. 

It’s a very low-stressed unit, which allows the driver to effortlessly waft along on great waves of torque and delivers a healthy 221bhp to the rear wheels. In this car the engine sounds smooth and quiet in operation, and feels like it will probably outlive the White Cliffs of Dover. This is perhaps unsurprising, given the full Bentley service history. Most of the servicing has been carried out by Jack Barclays, with the last service being undertaken by P&A Wood at 89,276 miles.

The iconic V8 is mated to a 3-speed automatic transmission - a column shift unit that changes smoothly and cleanly. It perfectly suits the character of the car, allowing the driver to just sit back and enjoy the smooth, relaxing ride. As a pre-1990 car, it features the standard suspension set-up, not the automatic ride-height adjustment system featured on later cars. This is definitely a good thing, as the later set-up can be a source of significant cost to maintain.

We’re assured by the owner that the car drives well, handling and stopping exactly as it should. We drove the car for a short distance and can confirm that is feels just as you’d expect, with no tell-tale noises or vibrations from the brakes or suspension.

If you want a traditional, luxurious saloon, you really only have two choices: Rolls Royce or Bentley. Well, as far as we’re concerned, Bentley is the choice to make. Not only is the image better (Rollers still come with a whiff of ‘factory owner’), but you get the same performance, quality and levels of luxury but with less outlay.

These cars rarely have a hard life, often being used for transporting captains of industry from a meeting to their jet, so as long as you get one with a great service history (which this has), you can be assured of many years of happy motoring. Just think about what would you rather turn up in – a BMW, a Mercedes or a Bentley? We’ll go with the wood and leather festooned, smoothly elegant Brit, thanks all the same.

And this car is a good, straight, honest example. Highly original with a faultless service history, all it needs is a machine polish, a good detail and one or two minor jobs to bring it back to its best. Then you’ll be the proud owner of a great example of one of the finest luxury saloons ever built. If this is the kind of vehicle that floats your yacht, this car is definitely worth your time…