Chassis B79LKL. 1951 Bentley Mark VI chassis information

Drop Head Coupe
Coachwork: Park Ward & Co.
Chassis #: B79LKL

Sold for $249,696 (£121,000) at 2007 RM Auctions - Automobiles of London.
Sold for $192,500 at 2010 RM Auctions - Sports & Classics of Monterey.
The Mark VI was the first Bentley to be built using regular production steel bodies from Pressed Steel Company. Many of Bentley's clients demanded an exclusive design, resulting in a series of custom body designs built by H.J. Mulliner, Park Ward, Freestone & Webb, James Young, or Hopper. Other coachbuilders, such as Franay, Graber, Radford, and Windovers produced one-off bodies. It is believed that Park Ward produced a total of 167 bodies for the Mark VI, in open and closed coupes and saloons.

This Parkd Ward Drophead Coupe is one of only twelve Bentleys sold in the United States in 1951. It was ordered as a left-hand drive by Howard D. Kizer of Montlcair, New Jersey. It was shipped aboard the SS Mauretania, departing from Southampton on July 4th, 1951 to be received in New York City by J.S. Inskip. Kizer sold the car in 1953 to Dr. Ivor Harris of Detroit Michigan. Mr. Harris retained the car for two years before selling it to Richard Stitt in Illinois, who later sold it to Geoffrey Field in 1959.

By the 1980s, the car was back in New York and in the collection of Philip Wichard, who had purchased the car form the widow of the previous owner. In 1990, the car was cosmetically and mechanically restored at a cost of more than $175,000. Afterwards, it received a National First Prize at the AACA National meeting in Hershey, PA and honored as the Senior Winner by the Antique Automobile Club of America in 1991.

After Wichard's death in 1995, the car was sold at auction. It was acquired by Bernie Ecclestone and shipped to Pichler Cars in Gstaad, Switzerland. The car remained in the collection until 2007, when it entered the care of its current owner.

The car is painted in metallic mauve over cherry red paint. There are trafficators and a burgundy, power-operated Haartz cloth top.

In 2010, the car was offered for sale at the Sports & Classics of Monterey presented by RM Auctions. It was estimated to sell for $175,000 - $225,000. The car would leave the auction unsold, after a high bid of $115,000 failed to satisfy the car's reserve.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2010

2010 RM Auctions - Sports & Classics of Monterey

Pre-Auction Estimates :

$175,000-$225,000

Sale Price :

$192,500

2007 RM Auctions - Automobiles of London

Pre-Auction Estimates :

£125,000-£150,000

Sale Price :

$249,696 (£121,000.00)

2017 4
2016 1
2015 3
2014 3
2013 3
2012 2
2011 3
2010 1
2009 2
2007 1

Year	Avg. Sale	High Sale	# of Sales
2017	$62,387	$124,968	4
2016	$55,880	$55,880	1
2015	$32,863	$41,250	3
2014	$100,775	$171,976	3
2013	$22,468	$26,721	3
2012	$57,236	$68,536	2
2011	$24,088	$33,350	3
2010	$192,500	$192,500	1
2009	$7,280	$9,360	2
2007	$249,696	$249,696	1

Recent Sales

(Data based on Model Year 1951 sales)

1951 BENTLEY MARK VI – SYD LAWRENCE 'SL01' SPECIAL Chassis#: B35KL Sold for $21,728 2017 Coys Blenheim Palace
1951 Bentley Mark VI Chassis#: B35KL Sold for $124,968 2017 Coys at Olympia
1951 Bentley Mark VI 4 Door Sedan Sold for $25,850 2017 Russo & Steele : Scottsdale Az
1951 BENTLEY MARK VI SEDAN Chassis#: B310LNZ Sold for $77,000 2017 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale
1951 Bentley Mk. VI Special by Padgett Chassis#: B234NZ Sold for $55,880 2016 Historics at Brookland
1951 Bentley MK VI Saloon Chassis#: B68MD Sold for $17,838 2015 H & H Auctions - Chateau Impney
1951 Bentley Mark VI Sold for $39,500 2015 Mecum : Seattle
1951 Bentley Mark VI Coupe 4 Door Sold for $41,250 2015 Russo & Steele : Scottsdale
1951 Bentley Mark VI Two-Door Saloon by Hooper Chassis#: B92HR Sold for $171,976 2014 RM Auctions - London
1951 Bentley Mark VI Saloon Sold for $25,850 2014 Auctions America : California
1951 Bentley Mark VI 'Empress' Coupe by Hooper Chassis#: B92HR Sold for $104,500 2014 RM Auctions - Automobiles of Arizona
1951 BENTLEY MK VI Sold for $17,000 2013 Anglia Auction - Souther Ireland
1951 Bentley MK VI H.J. Mulliner Saloon Chassis#: B262LJ Sold for $26,721 2013 H & H Auctions - Imperial War Museum
1951 Bentley MkVI Saloon Sold for $23,684 2013 Shannons Melbourne Late Summer Classic Auction
1951 Bentley Mark VI Sports Tourer Chassis#: B35KL Sold for $68,536 2012 Bonhams - Collectors' Motor cars and Automobilia at Goodwood
1951 Bentley Mk VI berline Sold for $45,935 2012 Artcurial Motorcars at Rétromobile
1951 Bentley Mk VI Saloon Chassis#: B201JN Sold for $33,350 2011 Bonhams - Collectors' Motor Cars, Motorcycles, Automobilia & Number Plates
1951 Bentley MkVI Saloon Chassis#: B281LH Sold for $14,593 2011 Bonhams - Bonhams Oxford, Collectors' Motor Cars
1951 Bentley MkVI Saloon Chassis#: B32LMD Sold for $24,322 2011 Bonhams - Bonhams Oxford, Collectors' Motor Cars
1951 Bentley Mark VI Drophead Coupe Chassis#: B79LKL Sold for $192,500 2010 RM Auctions - Sports & Classics of Monterey

Vehicles That Failed To Sell

1951 Bentley Mark VI's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.

Vehicle	Chassis	Event	High Bid	Est. Low	Est. High
1951 Bentley Mk.VI Special by Padgett	B234NZ	2018 Historics @ Brooklands Motor Museum		$39,000	$46,000
1951 Bentley MK VI H.J. Mulliner	B192KM	2017 Anglia Auction		$25,000	$30,000
1951 Bentley Mark IV		2017 Motostalgia : Amelia Island		$35,000	$55,000
1951 Bentley MK VI Saloon	B68MD	2015 H & H RREC Burghley House
1951 Bentley MK VI Saloon	B68MD	2014 H&H Auctions : RREC Rockingham Castle
1951 Bentley MK VI Special	B397MB	2011 H & H Pavilion Gardens April 13, 2011
1951 Bentley MkVI Saloon	B254LJ	2010 Bonhams RollsRoyce, Bentley Motor Cars and Automobilia		$14,000	$16,000
1951 Bentley Mark VI Drophead Coupe by Park Ward	B100KM	2010 RM Auctions Automobiles of Arizona	$115,000	$175,000	$225,000
1951 Bentley MkVI Sedanca Coupé	B175CD	2009 Bonhams Goodwood Revival, Chichester, Sussex		$25,000	$30,000
1951 Bentley Mark VI		2007 Christie's Exceptional Motor Cars at the Monterey Jet Center		$65,000	$85,000
1951 Bentley Mark VI 4D		2006 RM Auctions Toronto International Spring Classic Car Auction	$30,000
1951 MK VI BENTLEY EMPRESS TWO-DOOR		2003 Bonhams MOTOR CARS		$60,000	$80,000

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