1952 Bentley Mk VI

This Bentley drives quite well, with plenty of get up and go.  It seems to have a good engine and (manual) gearbox, while the bodywork and paint would benefit from the next owner's attention and certainly a full service would be a good idea.

This 4566cc Bentley MkVI ‘Big Bore, Small Boot’ Sports Saloon was first registered in 20th August 1952 and we’re told and was subject to an extensive and older (pre-2005) restoration with expenditure reportedly in excess of £35,000

B21PU has been in daily use as a wedding car for at least the last 20 years by the previous owner and for 8 years by the current vendor. Sadly, largely due to the pandemic, they are liquidating their fleet of wedding cars.

The exterior looks impressive, it’s hard to fault its sheer presence, but no doubt the bodywork and paint would benefit from the next owner's attention.

In profile the Bentley’s endlessly flowing arches echo the 1930s and looking across its flanks in between, the shutlines and panel gaps are pretty good for a hand-built car that’s nearly 70 years old.

The front view is gloriously imposing and regal too, showing some good condition chrome to the bumpers, grille and headlamps. The twin spot lamps and single fog lamp also appear in good order.

The cars 16-inch ‘Mallalieu’ wheels and white-painted hubcaps are all in fair to good condition and are shod with a mix of radial tyres, a couple should probably be changed as the tread is low.

The MkVI is with us and we welcome any personal inspection or call. Use the ‘Contact Seller’ option to make an appointment and take a closer look at this magnificent car.

The imperious feel of the MkVI continues inside the car with the light tan/ivory leather cloaking all the seats and padded door trims. The leather looks to be pretty good condition but with creasing and patina you’d expect from use.

What isn’t flayed from the backs of animals inside is hewn from trees - the windows and doors are framed with solid wood, as is the dash which is also inlaid with a walnut burr veneer. Some of the wood veneer has reportedly suffered from a bit of damp ingress from the windscreen. The instrument panel sports some great-looking Smiths dials and gauges including a pre-war-style ‘upside-down’ speedometer.

The large steering wheel looks original and the central boss features the traditional ride control lever which adjusts the dampers in degrees between normal and hard. Similar controls for the throttle and the fuel-air mix are provided too - another echo of an earlier time.

The floor mounted gear shift between the driver’s feet and the door probably takes some getting used to but adds another nice dose of idiosyncrasy to remind you that you’re driving an elder statesman.

In the rear, conveniences such as the wooden seat-back tray tables, wood-framed and mirrored courtesy lights, and pull-out ashtrays add a touch more luxury if any more were needed. The lush carpets with insulating underlay will surely keep her ladyship’s feet warm and are in a good condition.

In keeping with the pre-war origins of the car, the bonnet is hinged across the top to access the engine from the sides and can be completely removed if doing more major tinkering.

Underneath the car there’s surface rust across some of the chassis members, suspension components and undersills.

A few of the mechanicals visible underneath actually to have been given regular maintenance. Everything is fairly clean and looks intact.

Inside the ‘Small boot’, which has paint bubbling along the bottom, the bare floor board is intact. If you need to carry more luggage, the open boot lid can carry any extra cases. Stowed away are the starting handle & wheel brace.

The car doesn’t have an MoT and, since it’s classified by DVLA as a Historic Vehicle it isn’t required to have one.

This MkVI comes with its V5C only. There’s no other paperwork.

As reported and seen on the video, this Bentley MkVI starts and runs well with a roar from the engine and a soft puttering from the exhaust. Well, the exhaust is blowing a bit and it coughs on a cold start.

These were Sports Saloons so you can expect a decent turn of speed and with the adjustable ride, some good handling too - all in comparative period terms of course.

We believe that anyone who appreciates hand-built craftsmanship and quality engineering will soon begin to see such cars for what they are and bring about something of a renaissance in the way that has happened to early Bentleys. Meanwhile, why not dip your toe with this well looked after MkVI and enjoy a touch of post-war class with a pre-war feel.

Presumably as people who remember owning these or riding in them are now fewer in number, so we think this aristocratic motorised carriage will fetch somewhere between £10,000 and £20,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we’re open Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm and to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.