13th Apr, 2011 14:45
The Pavilion Gardens
1951 Bentley MK VI Special
Estimated at £50,000 - £60,000
Lot details
Registration No: T.B.A.
Chassis No: B397MB
Mot Expiry: Feb 2012
Introduced in 1946, the MKVI was Bentley's first post-war model. Aimed at the emerging 'owner-driver' luxury car market, it was closely based on the 1939 MKV (of which only fifteen were produced). Built around a massive cruciform-braced chassis with independent front suspension and a leaf-sprung 'live' rear axle, it was fitted with a freshly developed 4257cc (later 4566cc) overhead inlet / side exhaust straight-six engine mated to four-speed manual transmission. Unfortunately, the variable quality of steel available in the post-WW2 period meant that the MKVI's standard steel saloon coachwork rarely lasted as long as Crewe had intended. Thus, by the mid-1960s there were a good number of mechanically strong but cosmetically tatty cars running around. Dating from that time onwards, the tradition of building Bentley MKVI-based Specials is a long and proud one.
The 1951 Tourer on offer is apparently one of thirteen MKVI Specials built by the late John Anderson, who had a passion for making such cars. It was constructed around nine years ago, during which some £28,000 was spent on parts alone. The engine is an extensively overhauled 4887cc Bentley S1 unit that drives through a close-ratio Continental gearbox to a Salisbury differential. The Blue painted body is made from tubular steel wrapped in aluminium. The Special rides on 15-inch wire wheels and is equipped with a fold flat windscreen, aeroscreens, and wood-rim steering wheel. The 2+2 interior is trimmed in Black velour. The vendor tells us the Bentley has covered just 4,000 miles since it was converted into a Special. He considers the bodywork to be "as new" and the paintwork as "good". This spectacular looking car, complete with Saltire on the front panel, a full hood and tonneau cover, is taxed for a year and MOT'd into February. There is a thriving movement for such MKVI Bentley specials, some of which are enormous fun to drive and an awful lot quicker than the Saloons from which they were derived.
Registration No: T.B.A.
Chassis No: B397MB
Mot Expiry: Feb 2012
Introduced in 1946, the MKVI was Bentley's first post-war model. Aimed at the emerging 'owner-driver' luxury car market, it was closely based on the 1939 MKV (of which only fifteen were produced). Built around a massive cruciform-braced chassis with independent front suspension and a leaf-sprung 'live' rear axle, it was fitted with a freshly developed 4257cc (later 4566cc) overhead inlet / side exhaust straight-six engine mated to four-speed manual transmission. Unfortunately, the variable quality of steel available in the post-WW2 period meant that the MKVI's standard steel saloon coachwork rarely lasted as long as Crewe had intended. Thus, by the mid-1960s there were a good number of mechanically strong but cosmetically tatty cars running around. Dating from that time onwards, the tradition of building Bentley MKVI-based Specials is a long and proud one.
The 1951 Tourer on offer is apparently one of thirteen MKVI Specials built by the late John Anderson, who had a passion for making such cars. It was constructed around nine years ago, during which some £28,000 was spent on parts alone. The engine is an extensively overhauled 4887cc Bentley S1 unit that drives through a close-ratio Continental gearbox to a Salisbury differential. The Blue painted body is made from tubular steel wrapped in aluminium. The Special rides on 15-inch wire wheels and is equipped with a fold flat windscreen, aeroscreens, and wood-rim steering wheel. The 2+2 interior is trimmed in Black velour. The vendor tells us the Bentley has covered just 4,000 miles since it was converted into a Special. He considers the bodywork to be "as new" and the paintwork as "good". This spectacular looking car, complete with Saltire on the front panel, a full hood and tonneau cover, is taxed for a year and MOT'd into February. There is a thriving movement for such MKVI Bentley specials, some of which are enormous fun to drive and an awful lot quicker than the Saloons from which they were derived.
Auction: The Pavilion Gardens, 13th Apr, 2011
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