THe ex-London Motor Show
1948 Bentley MkVI 4¼-Litre Drophead Coupé
Coachwork by Abbott
Registration no. FWM 748
Chassis no. B443CD

The policy of rationalisation begun in the late 1930s continued at Rolls-Royce after the war with the introduction of standard bodywork which, in a break from the coachbuilt tradition, was made of pressed steel panels welded together. This 'standard steel' body was available at first only on the Mark VI Bentley, though customers could still opt for a coachbuilt alternative, such as the car offered here. A separate chassis was retained, the same basic design being built in three different wheelbase lengths, that of the Mark VI measuring 10' exactly. Notable features were independent front suspension and hydraulic front brakes, while powering the range was a new 4,257cc six-cylinder engine featuring inlet-over-exhaust valve gear and breathing through twin SUs in its Bentley configuration.

Coachbuilt Mark VI Bentleys are considerably rarer than their 'standard steel' fellows, and this particular car was sent for bodying as a drophead coupé to coachbuilders E D Abbott Ltd of Farnham, Surrey. Chassis number 'B443CD' was displayed on the Abbott stand at the London Motor Show of 1948 (stand number '109') and featured in The Autocar magazine's 29th October 1948 edition. It is one of only 18 Abbott-bodied cars out of a total of 820 special-bodied Mark V1 Bentleys, only six of which were drophead coupés by the Surrey coachbuilder. A copy of the original buff logbook and an original old-style green logbook are on file together with copy chassis cards.

The first owner listed in the buff logbook is one William Nicholas of Southport, to whom the Bentley was registered on 12th November 1948. Mr Nicholas appears to have been a tobacco merchant and as named on the order form within the car's history file. On 2nd November 1950 the car passed to Frank Hedley Stenning of Fulwood, Preston. Dated August 1958, the next change listed is to one William Rigg. Hugh Cowan Neilson of Dorset assumed ownership in March 1961, and then in March 1969 the Bentley passed to Squadron Leader Graham McKenzie, Isle of Wight.

Purchased by our vendor in 1997, the car was restored between 1997 and 2007 (photographs on file). Works included stripping the car down to the chassis, the ash frame was replaced where necessary. The chromework was sent away for refinishing and the car was subject to a respray in Brewster Green. The interior was finished with green-piped magnolia with and complementary dark green carpets. The hydraulically operated hood was also restored, and the hood itself refreshed to the correct style, retaining the attractively small rear window.

Well maintained as part of a collection since its restoration, this Mark VI has been cherished. Notably, 'FWM 748' was used for the unveiling of the National Transport Trust's 'Red Wheel' scheme highlighting the most important UK Transport Heritage sites including the former site of the Abbott coachworks at Wrecclesham.

A car for the cognoscenti, as one of six cars ever produced this Abbott MK VI gives its new custodian the opportunity to join a very exclusive club.