1949 Bentley Other

1949 Bentley Mk VI Sport Saloon
Coachwork by H. J. Mulliner
Chassis no. B399DZ
Engine no. B449D
The car is in excellent condition.  I've used it for corporate events in and around Southampton NY. and I'm very sorry to be selling her. but I have to make room in the garage.  
The Bentley Mark VI marked a radical change for Rolls-Royce. being the first car to be offered by the company with factory built coachwork. This ‘standard steel' saloon body accounted for the bulk of production. though customers could still opt for a coachbuilt alternative such as the H. J. Mulliner-bodied car offered here. Associated exclusively with Rolls-Royce and Bentley after 1945. the London-based firm of H. J. Mulliner was purchased by Rolls-Royce in 1959 and merged a few years later with already-owned Park Ward. The firm was responsible for the first Bentley Continental. an outstanding design by any standard. and its two-door bodies on both Rolls and Bentley chassis are recognised as among the era's most elegant.  

In the late 1940s. US auto industry design trends exerted a powerful influence in Europe. where a succession of manufacturers fell under the seductive spell of American styling. Notwithstanding a tradition of coachbuilding that stretched back to 1900. H. J. Mulliner was well aware of these developments. as evidenced by its all-aluminum coachwork for ‘B399DZ'. which shows obvious signs of Transatlantic influence. The current owner purchased the car (UK registration: ‘UMV 10') in Aberdeenshire. Scotland in December 1972 from one Willie MacKay - its fifth owner - who had ‘economically' restored the Bentley to serve as a wedding car for his son and daughter-in-law. In 1973 the Bentley was shipped back to the USA. the epic story of its owner's eventful first drive in the car - from Houston to Dallas. Texas - being recorded decades later in Lone Star Lady. the Texas Region Rolls-Royce Owners' Club Newsletter (copy available).  

One of the Bentley's first US outings was to the RROC Texas Region's Spring Meet in 1974. where it picked up the award for ‘Best MkVI'. much to its owner's surprise. Subsequently the Bentley spent many years gathering dust in the vendor's garage. eventually emerging in 1998 to be restored. a process that would occupy the next six years. In 2004. 30 years after its first appearance there. ‘B399DZ' again attended the Texas Spring Meet. repeating its win in the MkVI class while adding the award for ‘Most Exotic Car'. a wonderful achievement. Offered with its original handbook. UK registration logbook. 1972 bill of sale and Texas Certificate of Title. ‘B399DZ' represents a rare opportunity to acquire a unique. coachbuilt MkVI Bentley. bodied by one of Britain's foremost coachbuilders in period ‘Transatlantic' style.

Also published at eBay.com

Want to buy this car?