Lot details
Registration No: JOP 466
Chassis No: B115EW
Mot Expiry: Exempt

It was in May 1946 that Bentley unveiled the MKVI, its first post-war motorcar. A handsome four-door, four-light Saloon, it was the first vehicle ever offered by the company with factory-designed coachwork, and the first to be assembled in Rolls-Royce's Crewe factory rather than the old Derby premises. The rationalisation proved to be a popular move in the pervading austerity and of the 5,202 MKVIs produced 4,190 were clothed in the in-house body and 1,012 in coachbuilt ones.
The sizeable, X-braced chassis now featured hydraulic front brakes and independent front suspension by wishbones and coil springs. Only one length of wheelbase was offered - 10 ft. Power came from the new six-cylinder unit first seen in the short-lived MKV Saloon. Though still 4,256cc in capacity, it was an entirely fresh design, with F-Type alloy head and belt drive for the dynamo and water pump. The adjoining four-speed manual gearbox now had synchromesh on all but first gear. Standard equipment included: heater, demisters, leather upholstery, radio, picnic tables, vanity mirrors, reading lights, spare coil, reversing lights, oil level indicator and fog lamp. Wheel spats and a sunroof were optional extras. With some 135bhp on tap, the newcomer was capable of attaining in the region of 94mph flat out.
The MKIV now offered wears a Standard Steel factory body finished in the eye-catching combination of Blue over Cream paintwork matched to a Blue hide interior. The vendor notes that the trim is 'original and very good' and considers the bodywork, paintwork, six-cylinder engine and four-speed manual transmission to be 'equally good'. He is selling the car complete with a large history file dating back to 1986 that includes the build sheets, original handbook, buff log book, Bentley workshop manuals, old MOTs, tools (large and small) and a tax disc valid to the end of May 2015.