1949 Bentley

Coupe

6 - Cyl.

Manual

Gasoline

1949 Bentley Mark VI Chassis No: B59IEU For sale we have a rare 1949 Bentley Mark VI. We are selling "Old Ben" because he deserves to be taken out to shows and win more awards, and we don't have the time to do that at this point. We take him out around town every couple of weeks, but he hasn't been to a car show in a while. The car runs great and looks great. We have lots of information on the car below, but be sure to check out our image gallery in the following link to see all 94 high resolution photos we took of Old Ben. Image Gallery for "Old Ben" 1949 Bentley Mark VI "The Bentley Mark VI, with a modified 4 1/4 litre engine and a shortened version of the Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith chassis, became the first motor car to be built entirely at Bentley's Crewe works - and the first to be offered with a pressed steel body-shell as standard. Coach-built cars were still available, but the stately Mark VI - one of the best sellers in Bentley history - signalled a sea-change in vehicle production." -Bentley Motors Technical Data (according to http://www.rrab.com/bmk6.htm#top) 6 cylinder in-line engine, bore x stroke 88.9 x 114.3 mm (3 1/2 x 4 1/2 in), capacity 4,257 cc luminium alloy cylinder head, twin SU carburettors single dry plate clutch 4-speed gearbox, hypoid bevel final drive 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 What's Rare? The term "rare" has been used to classify this Mark VI for several reasons. In addition to the exceptional reconstruction by a previous owner (see details below) and the completeness of the vehicle with respect to all original part, tools, and fittings, the car has complete documentation of its earliest days. This includes details of its original purchaser's name, the date of purchase, cost, and delivery location. Although generally classified as a "touring car," the car has won numerous awards in a variety of competitions including a second and a third place finish, respectively, in two concours d' elegance competitions. Wood The interior wooden panels and trim have been restored well beyond the quality given them when they were created. Rather than apply traditional multilayer of lacquers that will eventually oxidize and crack, these parts were covered with clear modern epoxy based lacquers whose clarity and impermeability will provide a beautiful protective coating that will last for years. The modern Rolls and Bentley cars make use of such lacquers for their new cars. You can see from the photos in our image gallery linked above the quality of the wood refinishing. The appearance of most of these pieces show clearly and preserve the quality and beauty of the woods selected by Bentley when the car was constructed over 56 years ago. Accessory parts and fittings When Bentley Motors, Ltd. initially delivered these automobiles, they came with a great number of ancillary parts and fittings. These included such traditional items as a spare wheel, jack, jack handle, and tire changing tools. In addition, a large number of special tools such as an engine crank, a "plug-in" flashlight with a long 6-foot cord, four special steel syringes to permit special lubrication of the unique mechanical fittings of the car, and even a spare spark coil. Then, of course, there is the very special tool tray (see associated photos in picasa image gallery) containing a variety of special small tools needed from time to time to adjust various electrical and mechanical features of the auto. These many parts are all there and illustrated in the accompanying photos. They are very rare and virtually never found with most of these older Bentleys: they are just too valuable and are usually sold off as separate items. Engine This engine was completely rebuilt by one of California's premiere Bentley mechanics around 2005. The car was estimated to have only 1500 miles when it arrived in Santa Barbara for the process, but it was a prudent action given its age. The rebuild, of course, meant that the engine was taken apart, re-bored, provided with new rings, seals, the valves were ground, the engine painted, etc. The carburetors were also rebuilt. Unlike the typical "restored" vehicle, there was considerable attention placed on the rebuilding of all key mechanical parts with emphasis on the engine. Radio The radio was completely rebuilt by a specialist who replaced any faulty condensers (capacitors) and valves (tubes). The wooden frame was refinished as the other wood elements described above and looks exactly as it did when it was delivered in 1949. There has been no attempt to update it by replacing tubes with transistors or other circuit elements with more modern electronic implementations. No CD or cassette player has been added as they were not original features of any car in 1949. The radio works as well as it did in that bygone age, though there do not seem to be as many accessible shortwave stations nowadays as might have been the norm then. Interior As shown in the many photos provided, the interior is beautiful. In addition to the beautifully restored wood, the leather seats are in excellent condition: supple texture, no cuts or tears. A previous owner placed artificial flowers in the little light pockets on either side of the rear seating. They, of course, are easily removed, yet I have left them as they create a very pleasant environment. The carpeting is in very good condition and is protected with small mats. The rear foot rests and tray tables are all in beautiful condition. The holding hardware for one of the footrests operates somewhat stiffly. Known imperfections/changes/disclaimers: As far as we know, the paint is the original coat it received in production (as the age wrinkles would suggest), but it is possible that it was repainted a great number of years ago. There is a small irregular region on the front chrome region just below the "Flying B.". Can sort of be seen in the photos, though because it's chrome, it only shows as a slightly odd reflection. As you can see in the many photos, the paint has age "wrinkles" in several places. The paint is still solidly affixed to the body, but has contracted slightly over the years to produce these fine lines in some places. A previous owner discovered that the water coil heater under the passenger seat had been disconnected. The design of that day used hot water circulated from the engine to run through heat exchange coils under the seats to provide warmth. The two most likely issues that would prompt this action are the stopcock control malfunctioning, causing the heater to run year round (which would be rather uncomfortable in summer) or, less likely, a leak in the heat exchange system that would slowly drain fluid from the cooling system. Either way, it has not been addressed, as "Old Ben" does not get taken out in the salty snow, so the heated seats have not been a priority. Terms and Conditions $2,000 dollar non refundable deposit is due within two days of winning the auction, and full payment within 7 days. Potential bidders are encouraged to inspect the car personally in Madison, Wisconsin or send an agent to do so. Feel free to call Roger with further questions regarding the Bentley at (608) 628-9998. Shipping and Payment Terms Buyer is responsible for shipping of this vehicle. Happy Bidding! DecoBars Design copyright Shipscript © 2006