1931 Bentley 8-Litre (Murphy/Hershey coachwork, standard wheelbase)

Chassis delivered new via Walter M. Murphy Company of Pasadena on his behalf; heir to a major American sugar fortune and investment partner at a New York Stock Exchange firm operating in Los Angeles.

Discovered the car abandoned in a hotel garage, relocated it to Mexico City, and began mechanical work including fitting wheels from a Mercedes; progress stalled over several years.

Eager to put the car back in use, fitted a commercial truck engine in place of the original; the original engine was retained separately and passed along with the car.

Advertised the car in a US automotive publication in 1969, leading to a prolonged negotiation before sale.

Seasoned Bentley collector who negotiated purchase over two years; commissioned a thorough four-year restoration by Hofmann and Mountfort in Britain, reuniting the original engine with the car and recreating missing or altered components.

Long-standing enthusiast based in Seattle who acquired the car from Weber; subsequently it moved through several West Coast owners.

During this period the car received a restoration refresh and gained wide coverage in automotive literature; no individual owners are named.

Commissioned a comprehensive new restoration by marque specialists R.C. Moss of Bedford; car accompanied by a technical report from Dr. Clare Hay confirming original stampings and components.

Believed to have brought the car to a silver-mining town in Mexico; ultimately abandoned the vehicle at a hotel garage without settling debts.

First major showing after the Hofmann and Mountfort restoration was completed; car was then shipped back to the United States.

Exhibited following a freshening of the earlier restoration; no placing is recorded in the prose.

Took place after the R.C. Moss restoration was finished post-2012; narrowly beaten by another original open 8-Litre that went on to claim Best of Show.

Wooden artillery wheels sourced from a Mercedes were fitted, and initial work was started on the original engine, though little progress was ultimately made.

Carried out by or under the direction of Bill Rivas in Mexico City.

The original engine was removed and a Diamond T truck engine installed to return the car to running order; the original engine was kept and remained with the car.

Carried out during Ignacio Cuenca's ownership; the front crossmember was also removed as part of the engine swap.

Full four-year nut-and-bolt restoration including rebuilding and reinstalling the original engine, fabricating a replacement front crossmember, and recasting a missing hammered-silver door handle in brass with hand-applied texture matching the originals.

Commissioned by Don Weber; the replacement door handle was recast by Murphy's former assistant shop foreman using the original 1931 hammer.

Complete fresh restoration to factory standards, covering full refinishing of every component, meticulous body finishing in the original livery, and detailed interior work including mother-of-pearl accents, intricate hardware, and embossed leather upholstery.

Commissioned by the current owner; all major original components including engine, chassis, gearbox, steering box, differential, axles, and coachwork were retained and correctly rebuilt.

A partial freshening of the earlier restoration was carried out ahead of the 2007 Pebble Beach exhibition.

Performed during the tenure of one or more West Coast owners; no workshop named.