LeylandEight

01

Origins

The Leyland Eight of 1920 remains one of Britain's great automotive surprises: the truck maker commissioned J.G. Parry-Thomas to build the finest car in the world, and his straight-eight — leaf-valve-sprung, aerodynamically considered, mechanically exquisite — arguably delivered, at a price above Rolls-Royce. Around eighteen were built before Leyland's board remembered its business was lorries; Parry-Thomas took the engineering to Brooklands, where developed Leyland-Thomas specials dominated and he pursued the Land Speed Record to his death at Pendine. The Eight endures as the tantalising proof that Britain's truck engineers, given licence, could out-luxury the luxury establishment — once, briefly, magnificently. Lorries paid for the adventure and lorries reclaimed the company; the Eight remains the glorious exception.