1951 Bentley Mark VI Fixed Head Coupe

This 1951 Bentley MK VI Fixed Head Coupe wears coachwork by Park Ward and has a left-hand drive configuration. It was ordered new in Pale Green with matching Pale Green hides and optioned for the American market with export bumpers, fog lamps, and medium and longwave radio. The car was destined for the Los Angeles International Auto Show but for the 12th year in a row, the show was canceled and would not restart again until 1952.

The car was quickly transferred to Stockholm, Sweden dealer A.A. Wiklund who was processing the purchase for the shipping company Rederi AB Jan of Götalang, Sweden. It is believed that the car remained with the original caretaker for two years before it was sold to another individual from Sweden who kept it for the next 34 years, at which point it passed to his wife in 1987. It later became part of a collection in the United Kingdom before it was acquired by the previous owner in 2003. The current owner acquired it in August of 2004.

In 2003, the car was described as being largely original with an older repaint in white and under 12,000 kilometers on the odometer. The current owner had the car selectively refurbished and restored. It made its restoration debut in 2005 at the Amelia Concours d'Elegance.

This car is equipped with a 4,257cc overhead valve inline 6-cylinder engine breathing through a single Twin-Choke carburetor and delivering 130 horsepower. There is a four-speed manual transmission and four-wheel drum brakes. The suspension is independent with a live rear axle.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2021

This 1951 Bentley Mark VI Park Ward Fixed Head Coupe is a rare left-hand drive example of this popular body style. This low-mileage specimen was originally delivered to Sweden where it saw limited use.

It found its way to the U.K. and then on to the U.S., where it has recently been restored as required. This is the only time it has ever been shown, and the likelihood of further appearance in the U.S. is small, as it will become part of a significant private collection abroad.