Coys Auction - True Greats
Royal Horticultural Halls
Elverton St
Westminster
London SW1
Tuesday 7 December 2010
Before WWII both Rolls-Royce and Bentley motor cars had been offered in chassis form only and were then bodied by independent bespoke coach- builders. This became prohibitively expensive after the War, however, and the decision was taken to offer complete cars with standardized coachwork. Initially, however, only the new Bentley, the Mark VI, would carry ‘in-house’ bodywork; its Rolls-Royce equivalent, the Silver Wraith, continued to use outside coach-builders. Announced in May 1946, the Mark VI featured a strong channel section chassis with independent wishbone/coil spring front suspension allied to a live, leaf-sprung rear axle.
Today’s car is a rare and desirable right-hand drive example dating from July 1949, a drophead coupe by Park Ward (Body No B 282) with a rare early power-operated hood. Only 45 examples of this body were made, making this exquisite Bentley particula