1948 Bentley Mark VI
No Reserve – Entered from the Alyth Collection

Registration No: Un-Registered
Chassis No: B193CD
MOT: Exempt

• Entered from the Alyth Collection, a collection of motor cars kept in storage in Scotland for over 30 years
• Supplied new to E. E. Bailey
• A worthwhile restoration project supplied with many components
• Understood to have been first registered as 'JUC 859'

Introduced in 1946, Bentley's Mk. VI 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. Aimed at the emerging 'owner-driver' luxury car market, the newcomer was closely based on the 1939 Mk. V (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 4,257cc OISE (overhead inlet, side exhaust valve) straight-six engine mated to a four-speed manual gearbox. Capable of over 100mph when clad in the factory's understated 'standard steel saloon' coachwork, the Mk. VI quickly developed a reputation for being a refined yet responsive drive.

No history is known of this early Bentley Mk. VI, except it was acquired some thirty years ago or more by the Alyth Collection, which until recent weeks functioned as a kind of rescue mission for fallen Rolls-Royces and Bentleys. It has been suggested that it was originally registered in London as ‘JUC 859’, though we note that that plate was later allocated to a 1953 Bentley R-type in the 1990s. We would hazard a guess that our car was taken off the road originally in the 1970s or 1980s, apparently having covered just 52,925 miles, if the odometer reading is original. Despite having been partially dismantled and stored for possibly as long as half a century, chassis B193CD does not appear to have fared too badly. After a cursory inspection, the Standard Steel body shell looks to be in reasonably good shape underneath the cosmetic imperfections, and we suspect the dulled Green of the front panels may be the original colour. The engine is in situ and we can see no reason why it should not run well after the necessary overhauling. While some parts may need to be sourced, it presents as an entirely achievable and hopefully rewarding project.

For more information, please contact:
Lucas Gomersall
lucas.gomersall@handh.co.uk
07484 082430