
- 1951 Bentley Mark VI Special Boattail Speedster
- 4.6L I6
- Twin SU Carburetors
- 4-Speed Manual
- RWD
- British Racing Green Exterior
- Green Interior
- Built On 1951 Bentley Mark VI Chassis & Drivetrain
- Original Gauges
- Hand Built Alloy Body
- Wire Wheels
- Right Hand Drive
Coachbuilding is an art form from a bygone era. While a coachbuilt Bentley is almost unheard of these days, a few decades ago it was not so uncommon for Bentley customers to have their car sent to a coachbuilder to commission a more exclusive body. One such example is this exquisite 1951 Bentley Mark VI Special Boattail Speedster. The Mark VI was introduced in 1946 as Bentley’s first post-war model. The chassis were provided to independent coachbuilders and were built as 4 door saloons, 2 door saloons and 2 door drophead coupes. It was also available with a factory body, the “Mark VI standard steel sports saloon”, a 4-door saloon. 1202 4 ½ Litre models were built between 1951 and 1952, with just 180 of them being coachbuilt. Part of the reason for the low overall production numbers was the shortage of steel in Europe, which reportedly led to used models appreciating in value. Some of the more well-known coachbuilt models were those done by H.J. Mulliner, but many other coach-builders also commissioned these cars, including this example built by Northern Coachbuilders of Derbyshire, England.
Exterior and Interior
The most significant aspect of this car is the gleaming, coachbuilt British Racing Green 2-door body. The giant headlamps, the wire wheels and the running boards have “’40s sports car” written all over them. One may be excused for underestimating this car until you go around the back, for here you get the true cherry on top of the design masterpiece that is this bodywork: the rear end. It’s easy to see why it got the “Boattail Speedster” part of it’s name, especially when the roof is down. The interior is color-coded to match the paintwork, with a simple but beautiful wooden dashboard. Being a right-hand drive car, the gear shifter is mounted on the floor on the right-hand side of the driver. The trunk has just enough space for a few small items and the spare wheel, but grocery-getting isn’t typically on the list of uses for a vintage coachbuilt Bentley.
Engine
The 4 ½ Litre variant built in 1951 and 1952 had the original displacement of 4.3L increased to 4.6L in the straight 6 engine. Since this is a right-hand drive example, it’s fed through 2 SU carburetors. The rear wheels are driven through a 4-speed synchromesh manual transmission.
Inspection
The 2010 Bentley Continental GTC combines classic grand-touring proportions, open-top cruising, and the unmistakable character of Bentley’s twin-turbocharged W12. Showing approximately 54,613 miles, this example is finished in Beluga over a matching Beluga interior with a Black convertible soft top. Its specification is especially appealing, with the Mulliner Driving Specification, Convenience Specification, Piano Black veneer, drilled alloy sport foot pedals, and a Naim premium audio system. Together, those options give this GTC a more distinctive and enthusiast-focused character while retaining the luxury and long-distance comfort that define the Continental.
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