Bentley Eight Review (1984 to 1998)

Quick Summary

A chance to sample the high life - for less than you might expect.

Overall:

Models Covered(1984-1992 - V8 6570CC 4DR EIGHT 1992-1997 - V8 6570CC 4DR BROOKLANDS 1994-1992 - V8 6570CC 4DR MULSANNE 1984-1985 - V8 6570CC 4DR MULSANNE TURBO 1985-1998 - V8 6570CC 4DR TURBO R)

Sporting Style

Sporting StyleBentleys of course, share their shape with modern-day Rolls Royces. That doesn't prevent them being bought by a very different group of customers, however. Bentley owners prefer to drive themselves and often see their cars in a sporting light.A Bentley, after all, is hand-crafted, not mass-produced. And the feeling you get at the wheel of one is like nothing else. The British motor industry may hardly exist as we once knew it but a lasting legacy has been left. You could own a part of it.
Used Bentley Eight for sale

History of the Eight

For around the same price as a new Mercedes S-Class, a BMW 750 or a Daimler, you could have an immaculate previously owned Bentley - from an official Rolls Royce and Bentley dealer. It's an option well worth considering - if you have the means.Prior to the current day Arnage, saloon buyers chose between the Brooklands or the faster Turbo R. The Brooklands was introduced in August 1992 to replace the previous 'entry-level' Bentley model, the 'Eight'. This model was originally launched for under £50,000 in 1984 to bring Bentley ownership within relatively affordable bounds.At the same time in 1984, customers who wanted speed as well as comfort could pay around £6,000 more and buy the more sporting Mulsanne model which rolled a little less though had the same 6750cc engine. Between 1984 and 1985, there was a turbocharged version too, replaced by the much better handling Turbo R in 1985.In 1990, both the Mulsanne and the Turbo R were improved and further upgraded again in 1994. Like the Brooklands, they were replaced by the Arnage in 1998.
Used Bentley Eight for sale

Bentley Eight Road Test

Under the bonnet, you'll find a 6.75 litre V8 engine in normally aspirated and turbocharged forms, depending on your model choice. Despite the prodigious body weight, this unit still manages to shift this huge Gentleman's Conveyance at a surprisingly rapid pace. It's rather undignified to drive the car like this of course but for raising eyebrows amongst your fellow road users, you can't beat it.Most of the time, you'll be content to glide from county to county, much as the standard four-speed automatic gearbox slides imperceptibly from ratio to ratio. You can hear the engine all right, but it sounds a bit like a thunderstorm happening fifty miles away.
Used Bentley Eight for sale

Buying a Bentley Eight

To avoid potential problems, try and buy from a Rolls Royce & Bentley official dealer. Otherwise get a detailed expert inspection carried out. Insist on a full Rolls Royce-approved service before you buy because running costs are huge.
Used Bentley Eight for sale

Bentley Eight Typical Pricing

You can find early examples still going strong on A and B plates but values for these are largely dependent on condition and mileage. Post-1990 Mulsanne and Turbo R models are an altogether better bet if funds permit. G to J-plate Mulsannes range from £14,000-£18,000, while G to K-plate Turbo R models range from £15,000-£20,000.The Mulsanne was discontinued in 1992 with the introduction of the Brooklands which will cost from £19,000. The Turbo R was upgraded in 1994 with computer-controlled suspension. The earliest L and M-platers range between £22,000 and £25,000, while more recent N to R-platers are anything between £27,000 and £30,000.
Used Bentley Eight for sale

Bentley Eight Parts

(based on an M-reg Brooklands – approx ex-Vat) A full exhaust system (excluding catalyst) is around £1,200 and an exchange gearbox around £1,500. Front and rear brake pads are around £113 and £74 per set respectively. A starter motor is around £480, a radiator (exchange) around £268, an alternator around £675 and a front headlamp lens around £67.
Used Bentley Eight for sale