1948 Bentley Mark VI Standard Saloon

The Mark VI range was the first post-war production car from Bentley and marked a shift away from cars being individually coachbuilt to customer specifications towards standardised bodywork. The Mark VI was assembled at Crewe with the vast majority receiving a four-door saloon body made by Pressed Steel. The smaller, lighter Mark VI was oriented towards the owner-driver when launched in May 1946 and won universal praise for its excellent performance and road manners. Powering the Bentley was a 4257cc B60 six-cylinder engine with light alloy cylinder head, developing an estimated 130 bhp - making a genuine 100 mph possible. The chassis of the Mark VI had coil-sprung front suspension and rode on a 120-inch wheelbase, making the new model considerably more compact than pre-war models. During the lifespan of the Mark VI (and its successor, the R-Type) the Bentley sold very well in Australia - indeed, this country became the largest export market in the world for these cars. Today, the Mark VI is justifiably recognised as being a very underrated classic post-war saloon, with strong performance, excellent build quality and plenty of character available for a very reasonable outlay.