Lot 028: Bentley MkVI Freestone & Webb Sports Saloon

After World War Two, Rolls-Royce realised they would have to shift their focus away from chauffeur driven limousines to 'owner-driver' saloons. Their first all new post-war model was the Bentley MKVI of 1946, designed to be as compact as possible due to steel rationing. Powered by an all new engine, derived from a new family of Rolls-Royce power plants, the MKVI used the B60, twin SU carburettor, overhead inlet/side exhaust valve engine of 4,257cc.The MKVI also broke tradition by being the first Rolls-Royce or Bentley car to have a standard body design. The 4-door body was produced by Pressed Steel and the cars were hand built at the new Rolls-Royce factory in Crewe, Cheshire. Separate chassis could still be purchased for special bodied cars and all cars had manual gearboxes with RH side mounted floor changes. The MkVI was eventually replaced in 1953 by the long booted R-Type saloon.First registered in October 1949, this Bentley MkVI started out in life as a two-door steel saloon with coachwork by Cooper Motor Bodies of Putney. When it was less than a year old it was sold to an eccentric millionaire estate agent, DE Levy, who despatched it to Freestone & Webb of Willesden to be fitted with an entirely new aluminium body in the fashionable semi-razor edge style. He also specified sliding privacy panels in the rear side windows made of blue stained glass, electric motors on all four windows, flip-out brass-cased parking lights in the door pillars, silk cantilevered sun visors for the front seat occupants and a sliding aluminium sunroof (all of which features still survive and function). The work cost �7,000 and took seven months to complete, making it "the most expensive Bentley of that era" according to a letter contained in the history file.Sadly, Mr Levy did not enjoy the car for long as he died of cancer in 1951 at the age of 46. By 1968 the car had passed to a Harley Street doctor, Dr Shiers, who was to keep it until 1988, there being many bills on file relating to his 20-year tenure of the car. In the late 1990s the car was treated to a full restoration which included an engine rebuild, the whole process being recorded on photographs which accompany the car. More recently it has also received new headlamps; new door handles and bonnet handles; a full brake overhaul (now said to be very effective); an interior retrim in beige leather; new steering wheel; new petrol pump and full-flow oil filter; and the fitment of electronic ignition for reliable starting, hot or cold.The car is said to drive very well with good oil pressure and temperature at all times, and to cruise comfortably at 70mph with its 3.7:1 axle ratio. It certainly started readily and performed well during our brief test drive to take these pictures. Due to be driven 45 miles to the sale, it should also have a fresh MOT before it arrives.It comes with copies of the original factory build sheets, lots of service history back to 1974, most old MOTs back to 1987 when the indicated mileage was 1,289 (now 26,880) and various bits of correspondence from previous owners. Currently used as a wedding car, there are also various old photographs showing the car in different colour schemes in past lives.