1954 Bentley R-Type Saloon

Description

The Mark VI range was the first post-war production car from Bentley and marked a shift away from cars being individually coach-built to customer specifications, towards standardised production line 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 130bhp - making a genuine 100mph 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. In 1952, the engine capacity was lifted to 4.5 litres and the model was renamed the R-Type, with a larger boot and the option of automatic transmission for the first time. The R-Type remained in production until 1955 and just 2320 were made, the vast majority of these with standard steel coachwork. During the lifespan of the R Type and its predecessor, the Mark VI, both sold very well in Australia, making this country the largest export market in the world for these cars. Today, the Mark VI and R Type are justifiably recognised as very underrated classic post-war saloons, with strong performance, excellent build quality and plenty of character available for a very reasonable outlay.