Highlights
- Over £70,000 spent in the last 30 years
- Original documents including 1952 tax disc
- Low mileage supported by history
- Chassis number B294NZ
- Valued at £54,000 in 2021
The Appeal
Bentley has a long and deserved reputation for automotive innovation, and the post-war Mark VI is a fine example of this phenomenon. Introducing manufacturer firsts like all-steel coachwork and complete in-house assembly, the Mark VI also benefited from design details including rear-hinged front doors and dramatically sweeping wheelarches.
From the original vertical Bentley logo atop its bonnet to those diminutive tail lights, this late-model car is a true time-capsule Mark VI. There are imperfections here and there, as might be expected on a 73-year-old car, but no immediate work appears to be required. Indeed, it would be entirely at the discretion of a future owner whether further restoration was deemed necessary on a car which wears its years incredibly lightly – thanks mainly to sparing use and rigorous maintenance over many decades.
There is a huge treasure trove of documentation and history which appears to confirm the remarkably low odometer mileage – a reported 24,700 miles in 2011 and just 36,400 today. The car was rescued from a breaker’s yard in 1987 and subsequently received a full bodywork and mechanical rebuild in 2009. Since rolling off the production line, it has also undergone a colour change from pure black to the classy green and black pairing which shows off its coachwork to such impressive effect.
As the rear-hinged front doors sweep open, a world of walnut and leather is revealed, and it’s instantly clear how well this car’s interior has been maintained and preserved. The leather seats have an occasional tear, and there’s minor corrosion along the sills inside the doors, but the period dials all appear to be showing readings and the dashboard as a whole looks to be in superb condition. Even the LW/MW radio is encased in walnut, while the carpets and footrests have matching rear cushions. Now, as always, travelling in a Mark VI reveals some truly delightful details.
The History and Paperwork
- Only five owners since 1987
- Current owner since 2021
- Three-volume history file
- Documentation stretching back to 1991
- Valuation certificates from 2015 and 2021
- Original owner’s and workshop manuals
The Condition
- Dry stored in a carcoon over the last ten winters
- The owner describes its condition as “excellent”
- All instruments operating except glovebox clock
- Original chassis and dealer plaques under bonnet
- Two-tone paintwork appears to be in superb order
The current owner describes how “fellow RREC members who see the car admire the way it looks with the green and black body and the silk-finish walnut woodwork, as specified by the first owner, Dr Forbes-Proctor”. This bodywork has been maintained with extensive work, and records show individual doors being stripped back, removed, welded and repainted in 2017 and 2019. The interior is in particularly good condition, with the wood (including picnic tables) described as “in perfect condition”. Even the rear window sunscreen works well.
Further commendation of the car’s condition was recorded by John Ambler and Sons, who rebuilt the rear shocks and conducted an inspection in 2021. They were reportedly impressed by the condition of the car’s underside.
The Mechanics
- Bodywork and mechanical rebuild in 2009
- History file totals over £70,000 spent in the last 30 years
- Described as “reliable and comfortable in modern traffic”
- Brakes overhauled in 2018 including rebuilt master cylinder
- Servicing conducted by a member of the RREC
- Full original tool kit, including original bulbs
Mechanically, this is a very well-maintained vehicle. The owner describes the engine as running quietly and pulling extremely well, adding that “once in fourth gear, it’s like having an auto, such is the torque. In fact, you only really need to use second and fourth.” A full service on all mechanical components was conducted in June 2025, and good oil pressure hold temperatures are reported.
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