Bentley MkVI 4.5-litre Saloon

Produced from 1946 to 1952, the Bentley Mark VI was the first post-war luxury car from Bentley and also the first car from Rolls-Royce with factory coachwork as standard, although chassis were still also supplied to independent coachbuilders. The factory bodies were made by Pressed Steel Ltd of Coventry and sent to the Bentley works at Crewe for painting and fitting out with traditional wood and leather. They featured rear hinged 'suicide' doors and a sliding sunroof. 

Power initially came from an F-head straight-six 4.3-litre engine but in 1951 this was enlarged to 4.6-litre ‘Big Bore’ format and endowed the car with a top speed of 100mph. A four-speed syncromesh manual transmission was fitted as standard with the change lever floor-mounted to the right of the driver. The chassis used leaf springs at the rear and independent coil springing at the front with a control on the steering wheel centre to adjust the hardness of the rear springing. A central lubrication system allowed oil to be applied to moving parts of the suspension from a central reservoir. The 12.25-inch drum brakes were assisted by the traditional Rolls-Royce mechanical servo.

First registered in 1952, this ‘Big Bore’ Bentley MkVI was supplied new by Hoopers of London and was fitted from new with reclining front seats and a rev counter from a Bentley Continental. The car was spotted by the current vendor while he was living in Canada, where it had been owned by the same Rolls-Royce Club member for 35 years. Attracted by the wonderful originality of the car he tried unsuccessfully to buy it from the owner on several occasions, only finally securing it when the gentleman passed away some three years ago.

On its return to the UK the car was treated to a bare metal repaint in Bentley Steel Grey. The engine was also stripped and rebuilt with new bearings and a new crankshaft damper. The interior retains the original tan leather interior which has a wonderful patina. The car is now said to drive beautifully and comes with a current MOT and tax. It also retains its original handbook, a copy of the factory build record, tool kit and wheel changing kit. These aristocratic old Bentleys are wonderful to own and drive, especially in Big Bore form, and this one looks excellent value at the guide price suggested today.