A stunning, matching numbers, MkVI Special-bodied Bentley which has been professionally built and fully sorted mechanically having been totally stripped and rebuilt with great attention to detail by a fastidious former owner who spent years painstakingly attending to every stage of its development.
This actual car is well featured and photographed in Ray Roberts excellent Book “Bentley Specials” Vol. 2. Pages 706, 711, 891. It is also well known within the Bentley Owners Club, the last owner being an enthusiast member and participant in Club tours of Scotland and Europe.
Twenty years ago the then owner, Tim Tickler, acquired the original vehicle as a project, the standard steel saloon body being unredeemable, he arranged for Stewart Gordon (Bentley Specialist) to modify the chassis to produce a new Open Tourer.
The chassis modifications followed the common practice of moving the engine and gearbox back, retaining the cruciform, lowering the radiator and bulkhead together with the front suspension.
The handsome open bodywork was constructed by Peter Rae of the Bentley Specials Company. They having been involved, for many years, in the design and building of bodies for vintage Bentleys and particularly Crewe Specials of unique design aimed at capturing the style of the period.
A Rose tub was utilised but much modified by Peter. The body height was increased to give better weather protection, and a passenger door was installed complete with map pockets etc. Peter trimmed the car in Black with white piping, and the burr walnut dash was re-used after modification. The job was finished by the fitting of blade wings incorporating running boards. and Lucas ‘King of the Road’ P100 Headlamps.
Aesthetically it is in proportion with delightful lines and a sporty look. Mechanically, this is a very well engineered example and the 4,257cc engine sounds like the horn of Jericho, showing only 2,317 miles since its rebirth. The enthusiastic last owner has certainly looked after this Bentley well and diligently serviced it at 500 mile intervals. It also comes with a wealth of new consumable spares and tools in the bespoke rear luggage compartment and with a full Tonneau cover.
Included is an original Bentley MkVI Owner’s Manual, Factory build cards, a stack of bills from specialist firms and correspondence testifying to the immense amount of detail involved in the rebuilding of the engine and running gear.
Originally on the market at a much higher asking price, the car is now offered at a very realistic figure, far below what it would cost to construct today. To recap this is a professionally produced Special by Marque specialists. A sure-fire blue chip investment and lots of fun.
For more info call/text JOHN on 07909 231414.
Viewings can be arranged anytime in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire.
Low-cost transport can also be arranged in UK or Europe.
Model Info
The Bentley Mk. VI was the first post-war luxury car from Bentley, produced from 1946 to 1952. It was also the first car from Rolls-Royce with factory coachwork although chassis were still also supplied to independent coachbuilders. The chassis and engine went on to be used as the basis of those in the Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith of 1946 and Silver Dawn of 1949. 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.
