A tale of two halves

The first of only seven Bentley Mark Vs – and the sole convertible example – ever built, it’s fitting that this car was originally destined for royalty. The Mark V was the culmination of Bentley’s technological prowess in the late 1930s, making its 4¼ Litre predecessor look positively dated. Alas, World War Two meant that this car’s Binder body was only partially constructed, leaving Saoutchik to complete it in the fabulous two-door three-position drophead configuration in which it remains today. Having passed through a number of significant collectors’ hands, it’s now set to cross the block at The Finest Automobile Auctions’ Elegance at Hershey sale on 11 June 2016, estimated at 850,000-1.2m US dollars. If you’ve been searching for the ideal car to tackle next year’s Rallye des Princesses, then look no further. 

Photos: The Finest Automobile Auctions