“Rakish” 8.0-litre Bentley – known as ‘The Missile’ – for sale; it’s “not one for the faint of heart” but would suit Toad of Toad Hall
New to the market through Vintage & Prestige Classic Cars of Grays, Essex is a Bentley 3/8 litre Supercharged Special that combines a chassis from 1925 with a body from 1989.
Affectionately known as ‘The Missile’, this pristine car is presented in traditional British Racing Green and began life as a 3.0-litre Gurney Nutting saloon. In 1989, it was acquired by a gentleman named Andrew Day and transformed into a phenomenally powerful supercharger to designs by Steve Grosvenor.
An 8.0-litre block with American Arias pistons, oversized valves and a special camshaft by Zephyr Engineering were sourced and an exhaust system with “tuned sound” by a character amusingly known as “Len The Pipe” was also constructed. The result is a vehicle that puts out 511 BHP at 3839 RPM and one that achieves 60 mph in first and 90 mph in second.
Described as being “ready for serious road use or racing”, ‘The Missile’ is “rakish in the extreme” and of it, Richard Biddulph of Vintage & Prestige Classic Cars told The Steeple Times:
“I took ‘The Missile’ for a spin yesterday and it scared the you know what out of me. It spins the wheels up in the first three gears. I’d argue only budding Mr Toad types need apply. Parp Parp: Out of my way you swines”.
The Missile is offered for £850,000 ($1.1 million, €986,000 or درهم3.9 million).
Absolutely lethal of course and a rich man’s toy. No roll bar, no seat belts visible and one could suggest that upside down after an accident a Grand Prix standard helmet would not save you. I am sure Matthew could suggest some suitable young and rich boy racers who would like this car and collect a Darwin Award for their contribution to the gene pool. Mind you, with no roof it, could be an expensive mobile swimming pool in the British climate.