1948 Bentley Mark VI James Young Sport Saloon

This Bentley Mark VI chassis wears sports saloon coachwork by James Young, style number C10M. It has fully enveloped fenders, and clean lines and slim pillars. The design made its debut on the James Young stand at the 1948 Earls Court Motor Show, and this was the car that was on the stand. Three similar examples were later built.

This car was produced to order for Mr. Ronald Strauss of Strauss, Turnbull & Co. The chassis left the works in June 1948 and shipped to James Young to receive its coachwork. After the London Motor Show at Earls Court in late October, final delivery came in December 1948. Mr. Strauss traded the car in 1953 via Jack Barclay Ltd. who in turn sold it to Mrs. Caroline Blackmore. It remained with her for two years before selling it via Barclay to Duncan Hamilton. Mr. Hamilton then sold it to Thomas Whittle & Sons, Ltd. Several owners followed. In the late 1980s, the car was given a full restoration. After the work was completed, it was used on the road before being stored on behalf of the owner, understood to be The Hon. David Keightley Rideal Oliver. In 2003 it was sold by Oliver and shipped to the Netherlands where it received extensive mechanical freshening. Around 2013, it was shipped to the United States and then put on display in a private collection.

This Bentley has full wheel covers, two-tone blue and silver livery, original Lucas driving lamp, B70 headlamps, flush-mounted trafficators, and unique bumper overriders. Inside the four-place cabin is blue leather seats with Connolly hides. There is extensive wood trim on the dash, door, caps and picnic trays. The front wind wings open via cranks, and there are a set of hand tools in a sliding under-dash drawer. There are pivoting rear quarter lights and a retractable rear shade.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2019