Vehicle Description
The years immediately following WW II in Europe were marked by
great change, socially and economically, and Rolls-Royce was no
exception, with the company transferring its motor car division
from its traditional home in Derby to its wartime "shadow factory"
at Crewe. The Mark VI debuted soon after in 1946 as the first
postwar Bentley model, with the Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn following
shortly after. While prewar models from Bentley and Rolls-Royce
were produced in bare-chassis form and exclusively bodied by the
top custom coachbuilders of the era, the Mark VI and Silver Dawn
marked a revolution of sorts, being designed and built as complete
cars, primarily with standardized factory coachwork. The Pressed
Steel Company of Oxford built the majority of the bodies, which
bore styling quite reminiscent of the Park Ward-bodied Bentley Mark
V of the late 1930s, while ex-Gurney Nutting Chief Designer John
Blatchley applied the necessary styling refinements and detail
features for the new cars. Despite the mundane-sounding "Standard
Steel Saloon" nomenclature, the Mark VI and Silver Dawn were
constructed, trimmed, and painted to a standard rivaling the finest
custom coachbuilders of the era. The 4.3-liter (4,257 cc) F-head
inline six-cylinder engine was similar to the B60-Series engine of
the preceding war years, yet simplified with a one-piece cylinder
block casting with integral crankcase, plus a fan belt-driven
electrical generator and water pump. Combined with a four-speed
manual gearbox and independent front suspension, the Mark VI and
Silver Dawn were robust performers, capable of heady speeds
approaching 100 mph. Despite the brave new era of increased
standardization, coachbuilders nonetheless continued to apply their
expertise to designing and creating handsome and luxuriously
appointed custom bodies for the Mark VI and Silver Dawn. One of the
most successful of them all was Park Ward, established in 1919 in
Willesden, northwest London, and eventually acquired by Rolls-Royce
in 1939. Park Ward's four-seater Drophead Coupe body style is
particularly attractive on the 120-inch wheelbase Mk VI chassis,
with the coachbuilder offering two versions - one with
standard-length Mk VI front fenders, and another with the front
fenders extending through the doors and terminating at the rear
fenders. Bearing Chassis Number B452LEY, this particular 1949
Bentley Mk VI is documented by Bentley authority Bernard King as
one of just 45 examples originally fitted with Park Ward Design No.
100 Drophead Coupe coachwork (Body No. B603). A rare, original
left-hand drive example, it came "off test" was shipped to the
United States via J.S. Inskip. The first recorded owner was Robert
F. de Graff, a co-founder of Pocket Books, Inc., publisher of the
first mass-distributed paperback books in North America. The next
known owner was Dale Powers, with whom the Bentley was photographed
in 1982 for The Flying Lady, the official publication of the
Rolls-Royce Owners Club (RROC). Mr. Powers retained the rare Mk VI
until January 1993, when he sold it to a fellow RROC member and New
York resident, who retained the vehicle in his extensive collection
until recently. A concours-level restoration resulted in winning
Amelia Award (Bentley) honors at the 2012 Amelia Island Concours
d'Elegance. This very rare Park Ward-bodied Mk VI exudes a dashing
and luxurious presence with its Bright Silver paintwork accented by
red Connolly leather upholstery, a high-quality Grey cloth
convertible top, red top-boot cover, and the striking chrome
bumpers, handsomely shuttered grille, and upper bodyside trim.
Other highlights include a single Lucas fog lamp, rarely-seen twin
encased side-mounted spares, electric door window lifts, and a
factory radio. Handsomely patterned door panels and beautifully
finished Walnut trim appropriately finish the passenger
compartment, which also features a factory tool kit neatly housed
within a walnut case that is artwork in itself and thoughtfully
mounted underneath the dash panel for easy access. As offered, this
handsome Park Ward-bodied 1949 Bentley Mk VI Drophead Coupe
benefits from an extensive, concours-quality restoration that
continues to look fabulous today. Documents include a desirable
original owner's manual, copies of the factory chassis records, and
copies of articles from The Flying Lady. Additional items include
the aforementioned factory toolkit and a trunk-mounted case
containing the factory-supplied roadside jack assembly and wheel
tools. Crisp, highly attractive, and well detailed throughout, this
1949 Bentley Mk VI Drophead Coupe by Park Ward retains its matching
numbers engine and provides an eminently practical and ideal choice
for Bentley Driver's Club touring events or concours display.
Offers welcome and trades considered For additional details please
view this listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7266-1949-bentley-mkvi-park-ward-dhc/
