Footnotes

The policy of rationalisation begun in the late 1930s continued at Rolls-Royce after the war with the introduction of standard bodywork on the Mark VI Bentley. The decision to offer a complete car with 'in house' bodywork had been dictated by harsh economic reality. 'Export or die' was the slogan of the late 1940s, and the manufacture of standardised steel-bodied cars was deemed essential to selling in sufficient quantities to overseas markets. Despite the misgivings of traditionalists, exports rose steadily and the car was well received. Powering the range was a new 4,257cc six-cylinder engine featuring inlet-over-exhaust valve gear .

The Autocar magazine was highly impressed with their Mark VI test car in the Spring of 1950. "Perhaps the outstanding thought from extensive driving of the Bentley MkVI built by the world's premier car manufacturers, Rolls-Royce, is that it has no single predominant feature but gains its unique position from a combination of superbly matched qualities that raise it above the level of other cars. Years of painstaking research and development with mechanical perfection as the goal show their results unmistakably. Smoothness and quietness and sheer quality are in the superlative."

First registered in the USA, this 'Standard Steel' Mark VI was purchased by the vendor in October 2008 from The Real Car Company Co Ltd of Bethesda, Gwynedd, Wales. The Bentley has since been on static display and will require recommissioning prior to road use. A copy of thepurchase is on file and the car also comes with a (copy) Wisconsin Certificate of Title dating from 1989.

Please note that if this vehicle remains within the Netherlands the reduced rate of Import VAT at 9% will be charged on the hammer price. Please note that if you purchase as an EU Company, the VAT amount will be calculated based on your registered country's rate. Import rates to other EU Countries may vary and an administration fee will be charged to prepare the necessary customs clearances. If you have any questions regarding customs clearance, please contact the Bonhams Motorcar Department or our recommended shippers.