1949 Rolls Royce-Bentley Mark VI

edited by David Barth, 22 February 2009.
Courtesy The Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum in Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
Photos were taken in January 2009.

Sponsor: Elizabeth Shearer

Sponsor statement:
"This dark beauty has long been a favorite of mine. When my late husband, Robert, and I owned this Bentley, she conveyed us in comfort, luxury, and style. During a visit to the Rolls Royce Archives in Paulerspury, England, we discovered the original order for this car. An Englishman required this Bentley with left-hand drive for use in France. Rolls Royce produced only five such cars for the first time in 1949. This is one of these, thereby taking a small place in the history of Bentley motorcars. I visit her often at the Crawford Museum and am pleased she enjoys the wider audience she deserves."

Known as "The Silent Sports Car," this 1949 model is one of only five left hand drive cars built by Bentley in that year, which was the first year they exported the left-hand dive cars. They were powered by a 4257 cc six-cylinder F-head engine (inlet valve over exhaust valve) that produced 128 to 132 horsepower. Traditionally, Rolls Royce has never quoted horsepower figures for either Bentley or Rolls Royce engines.

Model: Mark VI
Body Style: 5-passenger, 4-door saloon
Original Factory Price: $10,000
Brake Horsepower: 128 to 132
Displacement: 4257 cubic centimeters (4.257 liters)
Bore: 88.9 mm
Stroke: 114.3 mm
Cylinders: 6, in-line
Wheelbase: 120 inches
Battery: 12 volt
Manufacturer: Rolls Royce
Location: Crewe, England
Years of Production: 1946 to 1952

Donor: Elizabeth Shearer