Review Bentley Mark VI

The Bentley Mark VI marked a radical change for Rolls-Royce. It was the first car to be offered by the company with factory built coachwork. The Standard Steel Saloon body was produced at Pressed Steel's factory. Powered by a six cylinder in-line F-head engine (inlet over exhaust) with a capacity of originally 4,257 cc the car performed really impressive. From those coachbuilders who had remained in business but few were able to significantly enhance the balanced lines of the standard coachwork. About 20 % of the Bentley Mark VIs' were fitted with coachbuilt bodies. From 1949 left hand drive MkVIs were available; from 1951 onward an engine with increased capacity of 4.566 cc did improve performance.

The Bentley Mark VI is an automobile from Bentley which was produced from 1946 to 1952.The Mark VI 4-door standard steel sports saloon was the first post-war luxury car from Bentley. Announced in May 1946 and produced from 1946 to 1952 it was also both the first car from Rolls-Royce with all-steel coachwork and the first complete car assembled and finished at their factory. These very expensive cars were a genuine success; long-term, their weakness lay in the inferior steels forced on them by government's post-war controls.Chassis continued to be supplied to independent coachbuilders. Four-door Saloon, two-door saloon and drophead coupe models with bodies by external companies were listed by Bentley along with the Bentley-bodied saloon.

This first Bentley factory finished car was given the name Bentley Mark VI standard steel sports saloon. This shorter wheelbase chassis and engine was a variant of the Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith of 1946 and, with the same standard steel body, became the cautiously introduced Silver Dawn of 1949. In 1952 both Rolls Royce Silver Dawn and Bentley Mk VI standard steel bodies were modified to incorporate a boot of about twice the size and the result became known as the R type Bentley based on the Chassis number at which the change took place.The name of the Rolls Royce Silver Dawn was not changed after the modification that started with the "E" series in these cars.

The Bentley Mk VI is a four-door saloon built between 1946 and 1952. It has a front engine, rear wheel drive configuration and was aimed at the luxury cars market. Other body styles were created by notable coachbuilders.

As British industry adopted the “export or die” motto in the immediate post-war years, Rolls-Royce designed a model aimed at a broader American market. The Bentley Mark VI was the result, and Rolls-Royce probably owes its survival to the model.

In 1946, Rolls-Royce moved its production from Derby to Crewe and began building complete cars. The first new Bentley was the Mark VI, based on the 1939 Park Ward-designed Mark V. The new car used the same independent front suspension and an inlet-over-exhaust valve six-cylinder engine of 4,257 cc, which was increased to 4,566 cc in 1951. The cars had centralised lubrication, and all were fitted with four-speed manual gearboxes.

The Mark VI was the first Rolls-Royce produced with a steel body (now referred to as “Standard Steel” models), and all factory-bodied cars were four-door saloons with sliding sunroofs. Coachbuilders such as Park Ward, James Young, H.J. Mulliner, Freestone and Webb, Graber, Pininfarina, and Saoutchik also offered drop head coupes, limousines, sedancas and other exotic interpretations. The Mark VI sold for £4,038, including purchase tax. In all 5,201 would be built over a six-year period before the model was replaced by the longer and more elegant Bentley R-Type in 1952.

The Bentley Mark VI standard steel saloon compares favourably to modern machinery, with 150 bhp from the larger engine and top speed around 100 mph. The leather seats, walnut veneers and no-nonsense instruments are tasteful and timeless. Despite the sombre styling, this is a responsive, nimble, quiet, and torquey road car. The Bentley Mark VI is one of the few cars from this period that can comfortably be driven long distances.

The cost of restoring a Mark VI saloon can be several times the car’s market value; however, once repaired, a Mark VI is relatively inexpensive to maintain and can ably serve as a daily driver. As such, an honest Bentley Mk VI can be a good introduction to classic motoring. Of course, the same does not hold true for a car with deferred maintenance, so buy with diligence, and insist on service records whenever possible.

Review Bentley Speed Six - The beautiful Bentley Speed Six

The regular Bentley Litre and the high-performance Bentley Speed Six were rolling chassis in production from 1926 to 1930. The Speed Six, introduced in 1928, would become the most successful racing Bentley. Two Bentley Speed Sixes became known as the Blue Train Bentleys after their owner Woolf Barnato's involvement in the Blue Train Races of 1930.

To be offered at auction at RM Sotheby's Amelia Island event, March 14, 2015. To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmauctions.com/Amelia.

Estimate:
$550,000 - $650,000

180 bhp, 5,675 cc Bentley B80 inline eight-cylinder engine with four SU carburetors, synchronized four-speed manual transmission, independent front suspension with upgraded coil springs, rigid rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, and hydraulic front drum and mechanical rear drum brakes. Wheelbase: 140.5 in.

    Recreation of the legendary Blue Train Speed Six
    Built by a respected UK coachbuilder
    Based on a 1950 Bentley Mark VI chassis
    Recently completed and only test mileage since

Legends cling to many famous cars, but perhaps the most fabled of them all is the story of the Blue Train Bentley.

Once upon a time, March 12, 1930, to be exact, a wager was made amongst a group of early motoring enthusiasts at a dinner party at the Carlton Hotel in Cannes, France. A high-spirited discussion was prompted by the Rover motor car's advertisement, claiming that its Light Six was faster than the famous express train Le Train Bleu. One person in the group was Captain Joel Woolf Babe Barnato, a well-known playboy millionaire, the heir to a South African diamond and gold mine, an international sportsman, and one of the original Bentley Boys, as well as the chairman of Bentley Motors and the winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1928 and 1929. He boasted that he would have no difficulty outrunning Le Train Bleu in his Bentley Speed Six. He bet £100 on his claim.


Picture the scene in the Bentley camp at Le Mans in 1929. Winners of the two most recent editions of the race in 1927 and 1928, the appetite for a hat-trick victory must have been contagious. The Bentley Boys were undoubtedly the most dashing group of drivers the La Sarthe paddock had ever seen. The new 6.5 litre Speed Six was strong, powerful and ready to prove itself at the world’s toughest race. Place all this within an era – the Roaring Twenties – known for its excesses, glamour and sophistication and the stage is set. Team Bentley was on a veritable roll.

1929 turned out to be one of the most attrition-filled editions in the race’s history. Despite this, Captain Woolf ‘Babe’ Barnato and the legendary silk-scarfed and extremely rapid Sir Tim Birkin piloted a Speed Six – later to be known as ‘Old Number One’ - to outright victory, followed by a trio of 4.5 litre Bentleys claiming second, third and fourth places respectively. Huge celebrations commenced, including a huge party held by Barnato at his country pile in Surrey where the drive was turned into a racetrack and the bars were fashioned as pitstops! ‘Old Number One’ was brought out for another victory at Le Mans in 1930, with Barnato still in the saddle, joined by a new driver in the form of Bentley Boy, Glen Kidston. So proud was W.O. Bentley of the Speed Six that he declared it his favourite car.

The current owner acquired BA2580 in 2013 and set about completing a painstaking three-year restoration with revered restorer, Neil Davies. Realising the significant place that ‘Old Number One’ held in British motoring history - a car that ceased to exist in its 1930 Le Mans-winning guise - BA2580 offered the possibility to truly reincarnate the legendary Le Mans winner, whilst maintaining all its original matching number parts. As a tribute to ‘Old Number One’, the body and fittings are an accurate reincarnation, including the wire mesh fold-down screen with the twin aero screens behind and Zeiss headlamps with a stoneguard fitted to the offside only, as these cut down the light considerably in racing conditions. The owners of the two surviving original team cars allowed every detail of their Bentleys to be scruntinised and reinterpreted. Copies of Bentley and Draper hydraulic shock absorbers are fitted front and back, a racing petrol tank, sized for Le Mans, has been added, a Racing D gearbox and the instrument panel and layout is copied from a photograph of ‘Old Number One’.

With a continuous, matching numbers history, this Speed Six is accompanied by a rich file of period correspondence and photography, from its time in Malta to the proud role it played in Lord Doune’s collection. Since restoration was completed late last year, the Speed Six has been enjoyed on the Royal Concours tour and has been beautifully settled in. It offers, without doubt, the ultimate in vintage Bentley motoring and it drives as well, if not even better, than it looks!

The Best Ten Bentley Car Models of All-Time

Bentley Motors Limited, more famously known as Bentley, has a history in car making that spans nearly 100 years. The company was launched in London by Walter Owen “W.O.” Bentley in 1919. W.O. had a desire to design and build his own distinctive cars, and in the course of doing so Bentley made a huge mark on the auto world. After many prestigious racing wins and the debut of innovative models, Bentley cemented its place as a fine luxury automaker and an iconic car brand.

Bentley cars have made appearances in media, film, and television, most notably in the original James Bond novels and films and the 1960s show The Avengers, which significantly increased the brand’s popularity with the public. The Bentley company has changed hands several times throughout its history, and through everything its name has remained synonymous with sophistication, unmatched performance, and impeccable style. Here are the top 10 Bentley models of all time.

1. Bentley Speed Six

Bentley’s Speed Six was an innovative sports car for its time and was introduced in 1928. In 1929 and 1930, the Speed Six won the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, thanks to its high performance engine. The car began as the Bentley 6 1/2 Litre, and introducing a single port block, better camshaft, and two SU carburetors resulted in the creation of the Speed Six. It’s not often that you can get your hands on a Bentley Speed Six, and its value can top $550,000 at auction.

2. Bentley Mark VI

After recouping from the effects of World War II, Bentley introduced its first post-war luxury car, the Mark VI. Fans of the original James Bond novels will remember the Mark VI as being the car that Bond buys near the end of Moonraker. The full sized luxury car was produced from 1946 to 1952 and it had an all-steel body, a great look, and suicide doors. 5,208 of the Mark VI were produced, and buying one today will cost you at least $37,000.

3. Bentley T-Series

The Bentley T-Series debuted on October 5, 1965 at the Paris Motor Show and it was a stunner. This car is essentially the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow sans the chassis and with a tweaked design. However, because the T-Series had a grille that was lighter and more understated, it became the preferred car for those who didn’t want to be too flashy. Most models were four door saloons, and a limited number of two door versions were released during the years the T-Series was being manufactured. In 1977, upgrades were made to the T-Series and this version of the car was known as the T2. The Bentley T-Series was produced from 1965 to 1980, and you can typically find one at auction for between $13,000 and $35,000.

4. Bentley Azure

The first generation of the spacious Bentley Azure launched in 1995, followed by the second in 2006. The first Azure was built on the Bentley Continental platform, while the last has the Arnage platform and a 6.8 liter V8 engine that produces 500 hp. The Azure T, which was produced from 2009 to 2010, featured improved performance, changes to the car’s styling, and an exterior inspired by the Bentley Mark VI. The cost for it tops $350,000.

5. Bentley 8 Litre

At the time that it debuted in 1930, the 8 Litre’s design was based on Bentley’s largest rolling chassis. It also stands out as being the last model designed by W.O. Bentley before his company was sold to Rolls-Royce. The Bentley 8 Litre was supposed to be the ultimate luxury vehicle for people who were flush with cash, but there was a big problem: the car went onto the market one year into the infamous Great Depression. Few were able to buy one, no matter how many great features the 8 Litre had or how advanced its construction was. It was the best grand tourer that Bentley had made up until that point, but it was also much too expensive for the times. Bentley Motors changed hands to Rolls-Royce due to financially collapsing less than nine months after the car was made available for sale. Today, a Bentley 8 Litre can sell for over $2 million at auction.

6. The Bentley Mulsanne

Some have called this car ostentatious, and perhaps it is. However, the Bentley Mulsanne is also what luxury cars are all about. It was first produced from 1980 until 1992, and it was designed to be the ultimate combination of style, performance, and comfort. The Mulsanne became the base for most of its predecessors until 1998. In 2010, Bentley revamped the Mulsanne and it’s still in production today.

The modern era Mulsanne was the first model that was designed independently by Bentley Motors since the 8 Litre nearly 80 years before it. Those who are able to splurge and buy one can choose from 114 exterior paint colors, 24 interior leathers, 21 carpet colors, 9 wood veneers, and the rear can be arranged for 2 or 3 passenger seating. The price for the most current Mulsanne starts at $303,700.

7. Bentley Brooklands

When Bentley went to replace the Mulsanne’s first run in 1992, they introduced the Brooklands. The car gets its name from Surrey’s Brooklands race track, which is where Bentley Motors won several significant races in the early 1900s. The first inception of the Brooklands had an angular profile, waterfall grille, wraparound parking lights, and a descending bootlid. The Brooklands was replaced by the Azure, and its first production ceased in 1998.

From 2008 to 2011, an updated version of the Brooklands was released and it was essentially a Bentley Azure with a fixed head design. Still, it was a gorgeous car and just 550 were produced. The second generation Brooklands can reach 0 to 100 mph in just 11.7 seconds. The price to buy one starts at $90,000.

8. Bentley Arnage

The Bentley Arnage was produced from 1998 to 2009, and there were Red Label and Green Label versions. Each had minor changes, but what stayed consistent was its classy look and all around luxury. 153 special edition Le Mans Arnages were produced that featured quad exhaust pipes, red brake calipers, sports bumpers, and 5 spoke sport wheels. The Final Series of the Arnage has a 6.75 liter V8 engine that produces 500 hp. Buying a used Bentley Arnage will cost you at least $80,000.

9. Bentley Continental GT

Bentley’s Continental GT is a luxury coupe with sleek styling that literally transformed the Bentley brand. It was the first model that Bentley released under management by Volkswagen, and the Continental GT’s widespread popularity elevated Bentley into a major international player in the car industry. This 2 door car is beautiful inside and out, and it features a 6.0 liter W12 twin turbo engine. The price for the latest Continental GT starts at $198,500.

10. Bentley Continental Flying Spur

The Continental Flying Spur is a variant of the Continental GT that looks so different it deserves its own spot. It features four door styling and is a full size luxury car. Bentley started producing the Continental Flying Spur in 2005, and several versions of the car have been created including the Continental Flying Spur Speed, Linley limited edition, Qatar edition, and Series 51. All Bentley models embody luxury, but some of the options for the Continental Flying Spur are downright decadent, which is exactly what makes the car so drool-worthy. The cost to own a Continental Flying Spur starts at $201,000.