1952 Bentley MK VI 'Big Bore'

Highlights

Maintained by renowned specialists such as P & A Wood, Hoffman, and Mark Taylor
c. £10k spent on recent mechanical work with marque specialists
One of only 1,200 'big bore' MKVI's built
Original paintwork with recent ceramic coating for protection
Comprehensive service history with all paperwork from new
Features a rare silk rear screen operated from the front for rear passenger comfort

The Appeal

First introduced in 1946, the Bentley Mark VI was the first post-war car from one of the UK's most legendary luxury car companies. The first steel-bodied car from Rolls-Royce, the Mark VI was an expensive luxury motor that defied the ongoing austerity of the era, and the first car to be assembled and finished in Crewe. It became an icon in its own right - a car of genuine authority with a commanding character.

Of the Mark VIs, the 4.6L iteration - often colloquially known as the 'Big Bore' Mark VI - offered the best performance, and quickly became the most desirable. Unsurprisingly, of course, it was also more expensive, so only 1,200 or thereabouts were built. The ‘Silent Sports Car’, as it was marketed in the period, was engineered by Bentley designers to have a shorter wheelbase, which meant less weight and therefore better handling and a superior power-to-weight ratio. While output figures were never officially released by Bentley, a 4.6-litre, factory bodied car was tested by The Motor magazine in 1951 - where it recorded a top speed of 100 mph with a 0-60 mph acceleration time of 15.0 seconds.

The MK VI featured rear-hinged "suicide" doors (with concealed hinges), a sliding sunroof, a permanently closed windscreen with a defrosting and demisting unit hidden in the scuttle and an electrically controlled heater beneath the front passenger's seat. Provision was made for the fitting of a radio with a short and flexibly mounted aerial that could be swung up above the centre of the screen.

Over the years, this is a storied vehicle. 3 Patina awards, a repeated entrant in the Annual Concours and an engaging record of its previous owners - all rather illustrious - all go some way to make this a rare prospect - a luxurious post-war car that's spent its life being cosseted, loaded with period details that have been maintained since the car was built.

History and Paperwork

Registered in 1952
The DVLA records 9 previous keepers
The car's history of ownership is fully recorded
Purchased on 18th of May 2021
All servicing paperwork from new is available and up-to-date
Maintenance work has been carried out by qualified specialists at all times
Maintained by specialists such as P & A Wood, Hoffman, and now Mark Taylor
Mechanical work has been done by Mark Taylor Rolls Royce and Bentley Specialists in Sidlesham, West Sussex
MOT exempt and last tested in 2012
Currently indicates 66,348 miles on a five-figure odometer
Paperwork file includes:
- V5 document
- Original registration book
- Hand written ownership history
- Build sheet
- A collection of old MOTs
- Plenty of invoices, including one for some £21,900
- 3 x Bentley Owner Club rosettes

This black MK VI, with its light blue leather interior, was sold by Park Ward & Co. of London, to J.R. Bridgman Esq. in August of 1952, accompanied with its bill of sale and build and chassis specification works instruction sheet. Both of these remain with the vehicle today.

Of particular note in this Bentley’s history, is the time spent in the Schroder banking family’s ownership. Evident in the accompanying documentation, Miss Marga Schroder and then Mr John Henry Schroder are recorded as the third and fourth owners respectively.

In general, the paperwork is significant and includes the original factory order, registration book and history of all of the 9 owners to date. The full story of this beautiful car’s provenance and history is well documented and would strongly suggest the current mileage may well be genuine.

The Condition

Impressive, authoritative stance makes the Bentley VI a real headturner
Paintwork is original and carries some light wear
Over 72 years, enthusiastic cleaning and polishing have exposed little coat marks
The exterior has recently been given a ceramic coating to protect the original paint
Chromework carries light wear
Glasswork and lenses all in fine order
Underside is solid and well-kept
Luxurious cabin is very nicely presented and highly original
Blue leather upholstery is in good order, with light age-commensurate cracking and creasing
The wooden veneers are in good order throughout
All instruments are clean and well-presented
Radio is still in situ with a matching wooden fascia
Extra items specified from new include a silk rear screen operated from the front by the driver for the comfort of rear passengers
The silk rear screen is in very good condition
Picnic tables in fine order

The exterior silhouette of the Bentley Mark VI has a fabulous period presence. Those striking lines of Bentley’s design are a masterclass of coachwork and today the panels and gaps appear straight and true. The gleaming black paint is set off beautifully with the abundance of bright work, where all the chrome fixings are fine fettle with only minimal signs of age.

Working around the car’s exterior, there are no notable dents, or heavy scratching with only very minor marking here and there as expected given its age, but generally, the exterior appearance happily defies the Bentley’s 71 years since birth.

As with the bodywork and under-bonnet mechanicals, the underside of the car has benefitted from a sheltered life in a dry garage and predominantly dry miles on the road. The owner notes that there is little to no rust on the underside, in keeping with the maintenance and care lavished on this car throughout its lifetime.

As you grip the chrome handle of any of the suicide doors and step inside, you’re immediately transported to a period of luxury in simpler times. In an age when driver aids and comfort meant defrosting and demisting heaters, twin windscreen wipers, a radio and cigarette lighter, it is in the quality and craftsmanship of the coachbuild and upholstery that you really experience a feast for the senses.

The mix of materials throughout the inside of this Bentley are all in a very attractive condition, with bright chrome work, showing only minimal age-related pitting. The leather of the seats features just the right amount of original wear, with no signs of unsightly rips or tears or fading on high-traffic areas. The same can be said of the blue carpets, which also remain in great condition. Seat belts were later added for safety.

The sliding sunroof opens and closes with ease and the owner notes that all switches and controls throughout the car work as they should. The rear trunk is a split arrangement where the upper main compartment is reserved for luggage and the lower section houses the spare wheel, original tools and jack.

The Mechanics

4,566cc inline 6 powerplant
Manual transmission with 4 gears
Engine bay is in excellent order
Recently overhauled at a cost of approximately £10,000, by a marque specialist
The only non-standard upgrade is an electric fan to cope with today's traffic
The vendor informs us that nothing needs doing mechanically
They highlight that it's in fine fettle and drives beautifully
We've no reports of any faults throughout

The 4 ½ litre, 4.6 L (4566 cc) engine was introduced in 1951 and referred to as the ‘big bore’ engine. This is mated to a four-speed manual transmission, with the gear lever interestingly sitting to the right-hand side of the driver. Of note in this example, is that an overdrive has been fitted by the previous owner, in the 80s by Rists Bentley specialists of Nottingham.

Lifting either side of the centre-hinged bonnet reveals a well-presented, regularly serviced engine and ancillaries, where the present owner has kept up a regular schedule of servicing during his tenure. The car starts with ease, is strong and smooth on the move and settles to a whisper-like idle as you’d expect from a well-cared-for low-mileage example.

This beautifully maintained Mark VI marks a superb opportunity to enjoy an eminently drivable Bentley grand tourer that has a magnificent design, rarity, and notable ownership at a very reasonable guide price. The car has been used sparingly and always garaged, which is reflected in its wonderful condition.

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