Following World War II, entley, ike all automotive manufacturers, ot back to work building cars for the public. The first was the Mark VI, nd it was the first car built entirely in-house by Rolls-Royce/Bentley. This 1950 Bentley Mark VI sports saloon offers a wonderful Old World look with enough performance to make it entertaining, ven today.There's no mistaking the swoopy bodywork of a high-end British automobile, nd Bentley were at the top of their game when this car was built. The all-steel bodywork was conservative, es, ut with the two-tone silver and black paint job, t becomes dramatic and elegant as well. Proportions are ideal, ith a bit of pre-war styling in the fenders to go with the all new greenhouse, look that would set the standard for another two decades. Restored several years ago, t still looks quite good, lthough its show days are probably over. On the other hand, can think of quite a few brides who would love to have this car ferry them to their weddings, o the look is still quite compelling. Fit and finish are typically excellent and the doors close with a final-sounding thunk that only comes from old world craftsmanship. The chrome grille is familiar and makes this car easy to identify, ven at a distance, nd the rest of the polished trim remains in excellent condition.The interior offers a uniquely British combination of luxurious and sporting. Bucket seats for front seat passengers are trimmed in soft gray leather and while there are a few signs of use, t has a wonderfully inviting look. The wood trim you see is real wood, eautifully varnished for a soft glow and the handsome Smiths instruments are set into a shiny panel of burled walnut. The driver's side armrest was removed to facilitate shifting, ut it comes with the car, ut that's about the only concession to right-hand-drive this car makes, o you'll find it easy to get acclimated. There's an aftermarket A/C unit stashed under the dash, nd even though it's not working at the moment, t might be a good thing to have. Overhead there's a massive sunroof, hich, urprisingly, as a popular option on British cars, nd as you'd expect, he back seat is beautifully trimmed and very luxurious. The trunk is big enough to carry a weeks' worth of luggage and it's neatly outfitted with matching black carpets.The Mark VI used a 4.25 liter inline-six for power, lthough Rolls-Royce/Bentley never said how much power it was. The engine is smooth and torquey, aking the stately sedan feel agile in traffic and never like it puts a tire wrong. Properly maintained, hese are reliable powerplants, o don't worry about the rumors. The intake sound from the twin SU carburetors and incredibly intricate mechanisms under the hood is a big part of why Bentleys remain so popular with driving enthusiasts. It's impossibly smooth and offers just the right growl from the single exhaust pipe out back. The transmission is a 4-speed manual, hich only adds to the car's sporting character and the rear end is geared such that this is a superlative highway cruiser. Brakes are also commendably effective and it sits regally on a set of wide whitewall tires with Bentley wheel discs in their centers.This is a wonderful car to drive, nd at this price it may also offer an opportunity, ecause, s I said, here are a lot of weddings looking for a special vehicle. What could be more special than a vintage Bentley? Call today!
|