1951 | Bentley Mark VI

1951 Bentley MArk VI Special with S1 4.9 litre Engine
Registration Number: MLO238
Built by well knowm Bentley Specials builder Anderson from Crieff. He built twelve specials often two at a time to keep his small team occupied. Sugar mouse, as the owner calls her, was number eleven. John built her for his son who was in Australia. He apparently spent numerous hours making her the best car he had ever built. It has an S1 4.9 ltr engine with a skimmed head to improve the performance. Twin SU HD8 carbs with a racing gearbox (one of the last made by the factory) and a limited slip diff.
The body is all aluminium over a ¼ steel frame. It sits on new 16” wire wheels with new Avon tyres which are designed to look like crossplys.
The seating is adjustable and the skins are camel hide, bred in the states and sold in the middle east. A previous owner, Terry Smith had them re-covered in his ownership.
After completion John’s son did not come up with the money so the car stayed in Scotland before being purchased as a Coivd project by the current owner/engineer who lists the extensive works & upgrades he has done to the car in his tenure as follows:
Work carried out –
1. Replacement undamaged sump sourced and fitted.
2. Full service conducted by Mulsanne Motors with new MOT.
3. Petrol tank sender fitted and gauge replaced with working unit.
4. Kenlow electric fan fitted with automatic switch on in addition to manual switch
5. Radiator cowl Bentley badge purchased.
6. Radiator cowl sent down south for chroming- originally green.
7. New 16” wire wheels manufactured and painted body colour.
8. Wheels fitted with Avon Turbosteel 165 x 16 tyres.
9. Rear wheel hubs modified by CNC machining to make front tracking same as rear.
10. Bentley pedal rubbers replaced.
11. Dynamo bearings replaced after weeks of tracking them down.
12. Water pump removed and checked out – in perfect condition.
13. New water pump back plate fitted.
14. Water pump rear adaptor casting removed to check out gallery.
15. Water gallery front end plate corroded away. RR part purchased and fitted.
16. Radiator removed and away for pressure testing. No leaks.
17. Replacement radiator hoses sourced and fitted.
18. Thermostat missing. New modern unit purchased on Ross’s instructions.
19. All three block inspection covers removed. Virtually no sediment noted, no cleaning required.
20. Engine block drain plug removed and checked, clean and free, no sediment.
21. Carburetors removed, split and ultrasonically cleaned. Some parts previously found ceased all freed up.
22. Cylinder head removed all looks perfect. (8:1 noted)
23. Inlet manifold removed from head – no issues.
24. Engine block – exhaust valves showing slight carbon deposits. Carbon removed.
25. All valves inlet and exhaust removed.
26. Both block and head cleaned off with Scotch Brite pads.
27. Head and rocker cover – black paint removed.
28. New head gasket purchased.
29. All valves reground.
30. New inlet valve seals fitted (original design)
31. Wiring checked, improved and diagram created.
32. Dashboard lighting created.
33. New twin radiator expansion tank built and fitted. Copying Johns design for Australian heat.
34. Bonnet tape sourced and fitted.
35. Seat mountings bolted to chassis
36. Cobra seat sliders fitted
37. Lap belts purchased
38. Lap belt mountings created
39. Rear mudguards adjusted to suit the new rear wheel spacing
40. Boot repainted to remove previous owners dents.
41. Ignition parts replaced 2022.
· Plugs
· Plug and distributor leads.
· Coil
· Condenser
· Points
· Rotor arm
As may be seen anything & everything has been done to make this as good a driving special as possible. It is also extrmely quick given its light weight & more powerful S1 engine. The car appears in the second volume of "Bentley Specials and Special Bentleys" Volume 11, Page 619, Reg MLO 238.
The car is now to be sold due to the declining health of the current onwer who has put £10's of thousands of pounds into the car in addition to the initial cost of the car. It is thus as good a special as one might expect to find & absolutley ready to go. The car is currnetly located in Fife Scotalnd but will be coming donw to us when we have transport passing by empty.