1949 Bentley S MkVI

This motor car is being sold as part of a private overseas collection. It has been imported under the Bonhams’ temporary admission customs bond. In addition to the ‘hammer’ price, the winning bidder must pay a bond release fee (£350) and also import tax/duty.

In the UK, cars over 30 years old are subject to the lower rate of 5% import tax on the final selling price if purchased by a private individual. Cars less than 30 years old will pay 10% duty + VAT as well as VAT. A company buying this car will always pay 10% duty + VAT as well as VAT on the ‘hammer’ price.

The winning bidder will receive a receipt for the final hammer value, and proof that HMRC fees are paid. If the car is subsequently exported abroad within 30 days then these fees are refundable upon proof of customs/tax payment in the other country.

The bond release fee (£350 payable direct, post-auction, to the CARS shipping company) will produce a NOVA from HMRC, this document is formal proof that all duties & taxes are paid in UK. The vehicle is not registered anywhere. You must register the vehicle with the DVLA. Upon request, The Market can suggest some companies who can help with this process.

This vehicle has been on static display in the Middle East for a number of years, and there is no history available beyond that displayed in our photography section. In all cases, the documents shown are photocopies, unless otherwise stated. We do not have the originals.

Unless otherwise stated, we have not tried to start or drive the car so cannot vouch for its mechanical viability or functionality. It will require recommissioning prior to road use and is strictly sold ‘as seen’.

It is available for viewing by appointment weekdays 9am-5pm, and we advise you (or your appointed engineer) to inspect it at our HQ near Abingdon in Oxfordshire.

This RHD manual Bentley doesn’t currently turn over, start or run - not least because it doesn’t have a key - so we can only attest to its cosmetic condition.

In common with many cars from the vendor’s collection of static display vehicles, it comes with no history or service records and we can find no paper or digital trail attached to the registration number the car is wearing at its rear.

The chassis number is B286CF.

The coachwork is by Park Ward.

It was bought for the vendor’s collection in 2012.

Today, the odometer reads 13,168 miles.

The car has black over gold paintwork, a beige vinyl roof and a brown leather interior.

It is rather better inside than it is outside. It’s almost as if someone had decided to restore the car, starting perhaps a little strangely with the interior, and then ran out of time, money or both.

Who knows?

Either way, it’s very much a curate’s egg – good in parts, rather less so in others.

It’s hard to believe that when it was introduced the Mk VI was seen as the ‘compact’ model from Crewe.

It’s really rather a big old thing.

There are no major dinks, dents or creases on the body work, but there are some issues with the paint and some corrosion.

The hood, which has clearly been replaced since 1949, is actually in pretty good condition and it goes up and down with a minimum of fuss.

The wheels and chrome work are reasonable, too.

There are numerous scratches on the bonnet and some patches of cracked paint and corrosion below the windscreen.

There are scratches and scuffs on the n/s/f wing and cracked paint, flaking and bubbling on the passenger door.

Neither of the rear wheel spats sits flush with the surrounding bodywork.

There are scuffs, scrapes and cracks to the paint on the n/s/r wing, as well as cracks to the paint and some patches of missing paint on and around the boot lid.

The boot itself is OK, although the lining of the boot lid is disintegrating.

The base of the o/s/f wing is corroded and there is also some corrosion and plenty of scuffs and paint cracks in the o/s/r wing.

There’s also corrosion in the o/s door and in the panel behind it.

There are cracks in the paint and some bubbling around the o/s/f lights.

The rubber trim is perished in numerous places.

Although not without faults, the interior is nonetheless in pretty strong condition and it wouldn’t take much to return it to its former glory.

It’s evidently been re-upholstered at some point and the brown leather is in very good condition, on the seats and door cards, both front and back.

The carpeted sections at the base of the door cards need to be re-glued into position, as does the trim at the base of the rear bench seat.

The carpets and mats (also obviously not the 1949 originals) are equally good.

The wood on the dashboard and door cappings, while intact and not significantly damaged as far as we can see, has lost most of the varnish and lacquer it once had.

The lining of the hood is in fine order.

The rear armrest on the o/s is missing and there’s a carpeted, lift-out section of the under-seat floor pan currently sitting in the passenger footwell.

We can’t make any claims about the functionality of switches, knobs, levers, toggles, buttons, dials or other electrics as we haven’t started or driven the vehicle.

The boot is in decent condition.

Everything in the engine bay looks clean and dry, and the undersides of the car appear to have a decent amount of structural integrity but are not without any evidence of rust dust and corrosion.

Clearly, you’ll want to come and see for yourself.

The car doesn’t come with any history or service records beyond what is shown in the photography section.

Currently, it has neither an MoT certificate nor an up-to-date V5. It must be registered in the country of your choice and you will need to contact the appropriate vehicle licensing agency for instructions on how to do this.

None of the paperwork shown in the gallery constitutes any kind of current licensing or registration documentation.

Yes, there’s some work to be done on the exterior, but whoever spent time and money renewing the hood and refurbishing the interior clearly felt that this car had the potential to be a rewarding classic to own, restore and drive.

We’re inclined to agree – provided, of course, that the engine, electrics and mechanicals are amenable to recommissioning.

We’re confident to offer this car for auction with an estimate of £30,000 - £40,000, plus Bonhams bond payment and £250 NOVA fee.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, 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’.