The Leyland Eight was thought by many to be the finest British car. It could reach nearly 130 mph with its 7 litre straight eight engine. With Reid Railton's assistance, Chief Engineer John Godfrey Parry Thomas started work on the Eight in 1917 and it was first shown at the Motor Show in 1920. Following WWI, Leyland faced financial crisis and the project was abandoned at the end of 1922.

Parry Thomas left Leyland with various unused parts but in 1927 he was killed in his land speed car 'Babs' on Pendine Sands in Wales. The Leyland Eight chassis passed to Thomson and Taylor of Brooklands who completed this car for the Hon David Tennant with bodywork by Barker & Company of London.