1948 Bentley MKVI Sports Saloon
The Mark VI represented a pivotal moment in Bentley’s history: the first standard steel saloon produced at Crewe, the first of the postwar generation, and the most popular model Bentley had produced to that point.
More significantly, it was the first model offered by either Bentley or Rolls-Royce as a complete car with factory-built steel coachwork (a practical response to postwar economics and export demands).
The Standard Steel body was designed by J.P. Blatchley, who later became Bentley’s first design chief at Crewe, with panels produced by Pressed Steel Ltd and the cars assembled, trimmed, and finished at the factory.
Interiors were modeled on prewar coachbuilt Bentleys, with Connolly hide upholstery, walnut veneer on the fascia and door trim, and Wilton pile carpet.
The 4¼-liter (4,257 cc) inlet-over-exhaust inline six is backed by a four-speed manual gearbox, with independent coil-spring front suspension and a servo-assisted four-wheel drum brake arrangement. Curb weight was approximately 3,650 pounds (1,655 kg), depending on specification.
Of the 5,201 Mark VIs produced between 1946 and 1952, 4,000 were fitted with the 4¼-liter engine, and 4,186 wore the Standard Steel saloon body.
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