BENTLEY 1946-1955

(Also known as MK VI, MK 6, Mark 6, MK6)

The Mark VI was the first post-war 4-door luxury car from Bentley. Concurrently RR broke with tradition and offered a complete standard car - a steel bodied and steel framed sports saloon . This unique model had basically the same chassis and running gear as the Silver Wraith and was called the Bentley Mark 6 Standard Steel Sports Saloon . This path was initiated by the fact that Rolls Royce had , just prior to WW2, taken over Park Ward (Coachbuilders) Ltd ,and this Company had developed a fully steel constructed body for the prewar Mark V Bentley in 1938. The idea for a complete model ( body and chassis combined) was already in place.

It is understood that the RR in house Coachbuilders Park Ward were not able to keep up with orders for the standard bodied car and to relieve the stress outside Coachbuilders were needed as a necessity. It was rumoured that if a customer placed a order with their agent for the Standard Steel Mk6 towards the end of 1950 that the Agent was to intimate that they should not realistically expect to receive delivery for 48 months.

Total production: 52,200

This sub-model of the Mark VI is a 2-door full size luxury car with convertible body style. Swiss coachbuilder Hermann Graber of Basel worked on virtually every fine chassis from the 1930s through the 1950s but became especially highly regarded for the gentle elegance of its designs on Rolls-Royce and Bentley. This included several similar drophead coupes produced on Mark VI chassis, known for their smooth, modern “pontoon”-fendered lines, with integrated headlamps and flowing slab sides, giving them an appearance reminiscent of Talbot-Lago. 

• Twin SU carburettors (left-hand drive variant: single Stromberg carburettor)
• 6 cylinder in-line engine
• RWD (rear wheel drive)
• 4-speed gearbox
• Wheelbase 3,048 mm (120 in)

This sub-model of the Mark VI was offered until 1952, a 2-door full size luxury car with convertible body style.

• Twin SU carburettors
• 6 cylinder in-line engine
• RWD (rear wheel drive)
• 4-speed gearbox
• Wheelbase 3,048 mm (120 in)

This sub-model of the Mark VI was offered until 1952, a 4-door full size luxury car with sedan body style. Coachwork by H J Mulliner, a British coachbuilding company founded in 1900 in London, after World War II they focus mainly on Rolls-Royce & Bentley chassis and got acquired by Rolls-Royce in 1959.

• Twin SU carburettors
• 6 cylinder in-line engine
• RWD (rear wheel drive)
• 4-speed gearbox
• Wheelbase 3,048 mm (120 in)

This sub-model of the Mark VI is the full size luxury car with convertible body style. Coachwork by H J Mulliner, a British coachbuilding company founded in 1900 in London, after World War II they focus mainly on Rolls-Royce & Bentley chassis and got acquired by Rolls-Royce in 1959.

• Twin SU carburettors
• 6 cylinder in-line engine
• RWD (rear wheel drive)
• 4-speed gearbox
• Wheelbase 3,048 mm (120 in)

This sub-model of the Mark VI was offered until 1952. Full size luxury car with sedan body style. Coachwork by James Young, a British coachbuilding company founded in 1863 in London and later bought by Rolls-Royce dealer Jack Barclay in 1937. 

• Twin SU carburettors
• 6 cylinder in-line engine
• RWD (rear wheel drive)
• 4-speed gearbox
• Wheelbase 3,048 mm (120 in)

(Also known as Rtype, R type, R)

The R-Type was introduced in 1952 and offered until 1955. Following in the footsteps of huge success of the Mark 6 Bentley and the Silver Dawn, in whatever guise they were clothed, a new standard model was offered in 1953. This was the R Type Standard Steel Sports saloon Bentley . The R Type had basically the same chassis as the previous model but with an extended boot which gave the car a more balanced look .The engine capacity had already been increased from 4 1/4 litre to 4 1/2 litres in 1952 and remained as such .The R Type was also offered for the first time with the option of an automatic gearbox.

Total production: 2,320

• Twin SU carburettors
• 6 cylinder in-line engine
• Aluminium alloy cylinder head
• 4-speed gearbox
• 4-speed automatic gearbox optional
• Independent front suspension with coil springs
• Semi-elliptic springs rear
• Drum brakes servo-assisted
• Wheelbase 3,048 mm (120 in)
• Tyre size 6.50 x 16

This sub-model of the R-Type came to the market in 1953. A 2-door full-size luxury car with convertible body style. Coachwork by Park Ward, a British coachbuilding company founded in 1919, they got acquired by Rolls-Royce in 1939 and merged with Park Ward in 1961.

• Twin SU carburettors
• 6 cylinder in-line engine
• Aluminium alloy cylinder head
• 4-speed automatic gearbox
• Independent front suspension with coil springs
• Semi-elliptic springs rear
• Drum brakes servo-assisted
• Wheelbase 3,048 mm (120 in)
• Tyre size 6.50 x 16

This sub-model of the R-Type came to the market in 1953. A 2-door full-size luxury car with convertible body style. Coachwork by Carosserie Graber, founded in 1925 in Wichtrach near Bern, one of the most successful and well known coachbuilders.

• Twin SU carburettors
• 6 cylinder in-line engine
• Aluminium alloy cylinder head
• 4-speed manual gearbox
• Independent front suspension with coil springs
• Semi-elliptic springs rear
• Drum brakes servo-assisted
• Wheelbase 3,048 mm (120 in)
• Tyre size 6.50 x 16

This sub-model of the R-Type came to the market in 1954. A 2-door full-size luxury car with convertible body style. Coachwork by Carosserie Graber, founded in 1925 in Wichtrach near Bern, one of the most successful and well known coachbuilders.

• Twin SU carburettors
• 6 cylinder in-line engine
• Aluminium alloy cylinder head
• 4-speed manual gearbox
• Independent front suspension with coil springs
• Semi-elliptic springs rear
• Drum brakes servo-assisted
• Wheelbase 3,048 mm (120 in)
• Tyre size 6.50 x 16

This sub-model of the R-Type came to the market in 1954. A 2-door full-size luxury car with convertible body style. Coachwork by James Young, a British coachbuilding company founded in 1863 in London and later bought by Rolls-Royce dealer Jack Barclay in 1937. 

• Twin SU carburettors
• 6 cylinder in-line engine
• Aluminium alloy cylinder head
• 4-speed manual gearbox
• 4-speed automatic gearbox optional
• Independent front suspension with coil springs
• Semi-elliptic springs rear
• Drum brakes servo-assisted
• Wheelbase 3,048 mm (120 in)
• Tyre size 6.50 x 16

This sub-model of the R-Type is the latest of the customised Park Ward bodies for the continental range. A 2-door full-size luxury car with convertible body style. Coachwork by Park Ward, a British coachbuilding company founded in 1919, they got acquired by Rolls-Royce in 1939 and merged with Park Ward in 1961.

• Twin SU carburettors
• 6 cylinder in-line engine
• Aluminium alloy cylinder head
• 4-speed manual gearbox
• 4-speed automatic gearbox optional
• Independent front suspension with coil springs
• Semi-elliptic springs rear
• Drum brakes servo-assisted
• Wheelbase 3,048 mm (120 in)
• Tyre size 6.50 x 16