Bentley MkVI

Description

The Bentley MkVI, introduced in 1946, fairly bristled with new ideas and marked a bold change of direction for a company as conservative as Rolls-Royce, owner of the Bentley marque. The most radical departure from pre-war practice was the fact that the MkVI could be bought with a standard body. Other major new features were the engine, cruciform chassis and hydraulically operated front brakes. However, none of this indicates the true historical importance of the MkVI or why the model is at the heart of this book-quite simply the MkVI’s design was the well-spring from which all the mainstream Rolls-Royce and Bentley models flowed until the advent of the Silver Shadow and Bentley T-Series in 1965. Here is the complete story of the Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith, Silver Dawn and Silver Cloud and the Bentley MkVI, R-Type and S-Type. Covering concept, design and development, production, promotion, publicity and the coachbuilt cars. There is also helpful practical advice on buying and running these cars today, together with appendices of chassis number sequences and dates, build numbers and modifications and development by chassis number. Illustrated with over 160 black and white and color photos, this book is a must have for anyone interested in automotive history. Martyn Nutland has owned Bentleys for years. He is a professional journalist and is former editor of the Bentley Drivers’ Club Review. Martyn lives in Suescnart in France.

Restored Cars, March 2008Australian magazine
 
This book covers the development and production history of the elegant and luxurious mainstream Rolls-Royce and Bentley models built between 1947 and 1965. Arguably, these cars, all built on chassis and echoing pre-war practices, were the last of the ‘traditional’ Rolls-Royce and Bentley models. Many of these cars have survived to the present day, all are eminently collectible. Concept design and development, production, promotion, publicity and the coach built cars are covered and there is also helpful practical advice on buying and running these cars, together with chassis number sequences and dates, build numbers and modifications and development by chassis number. Illustrated with over 160 black and white and color photographs, this book is a must-have for anyone interested in automotive history.

Beaded Wheels, February 2008Review by Mark HolmanMagazine for the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand 
The latest in a series of ‘Classic Reprints’ by Veloce, Nutland’s book was first published in 1997. It’s an excellent example of how a ‘model history’ should be.
As its lengthy title suggests, the book covers a range of Bentley and Rolls-Royce models. It’s no simple take on their history, either. There’s plenty on the development of the cars, their engineering, production, standard and coachbuilt bodywork and interiors – from James Young to Franay, competition exploits – especially Mike Couper’s frequent Monte Carlo rally successes, specials, sales and promotion (including some reprinted brochures). There are some wonderful technical details: for example, assembling the hydramatic gearboxes involved drying with compressed air, component storage in glass-topped cabinets and honing the oil control valve box with pulverized coconut shell and ground oat husks. And the people involved get as much attention as the ‘nuts bolts’ – from various owners, staff in the factory and dealers, engineers like Grylls and race drivers including Roy Salvadori.
At first glance it seems quite a slim book for the price. But each page carries a lot of text and there are plenty of photos, so it ends up being a more substantial read than you might think.
What do you get for the money? Essentially, it’s the benefit of reading an author who really seems to know his stuff and isn’t afraid to express his opinions; someone who’s gone to plenty of sources for his facts and anecdotes and who has also taken trouble to assemble a good selection of illustrations.
While I am sure I will never own one of these classic Crewe/Derby cars, if I did – or if I were even remotely interested in buying or restoring one – this would certainly be on my reading list. Definitely recommended.

The Automobile, January 2008Although generically titled Bentley Mk VI, this book embraces all the Crewe-made cars from 1947 to 1965, including therefore the V-8-engined cars, the last before the arrival of the unitary-bodied Shadow/T-type. The first half covers the development of the various models, including special coachwork versions, in succinct detail with appropriate illustrations. After a look at competition performances (specials and the Monte Carlo rally), the author gives guidance on purchase, maintenance and restoration, closing with chassis-number appendices.  A very useful introduction to anyone contemplating buying one of these cars.

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