Bentley Mark VI / R-Type
1946–1955 · Bentley Mark VI / R-Type — Luxury Saloon, Inline-6, designed by John Blatchley.
The Story
The Mark VI rebuilt Bentley after the war — and quietly changed how it was built. Announced in 1946, it was the first Rolls-Royce or Bentley with factory all-steel coachwork, and the first complete car assembled and finished at the factory rather than sent out to a coachbuilder. The idea came from executive W.A. Robotham, who bet in 1944 that post-war buyers wouldn’t wait months for bespoke bodies.
He was right: the ‘standard steel’ saloon outsold every pre-war Bentley combined. Some 4,001 were built, and in 1952 the R-Type added a bigger boot and more pace. Its only real flaw was beyond Bentley’s control — the inferior, government-rationed post-war steel that left many bodies prone to rust. It also gave the world the platform for the R-Type Continental.
The Numbers
Benchmarked against its class
Each dial ranks this car within its Luxury Saloon class — fuller means higher, and the tick marks the class midpoint.
Signature Colors
The Designer
John Blatchley
John Polwhele Blatchley was Rolls-Royce/Bentley’s chief stylist from the late 1940s to 1969 — responsible for the standard-steel saloons, the celebrated R-Type Continental fastback (aerodynamics by Ivan Evernden) and, as his last design, the Silver Shadow/T-Series.
Studio Motors POV
The car that rebuilt Bentley after the war and democratised it — the value gateway into genuine hand-finished classic Bentley ownership, provided the steel is sound.
The Engine
Rolls-Royce B60 Inline-Six (F-head)
Lineage
Where it sits in the bloodline
Market & Value
Values on cars like this move monthly. Our brokers price from real transactions.
What Reviewers Said About Mark VI / R-Type
Worth Knowing About the Mark VI / R-Type
3 Things You Didn’t Know
- 1. It was the first Rolls-Royce/Bentley with factory all-steel coachwork — and the first complete car assembled and finished at the factory, not by an outside coachbuilder.
- 2. The 'standard steel' body grew from a 1944 bet by executive W.A. Robotham that post-war buyers wouldn't wait for coachbuilders.
- 3. In Ian Fleming's novels, James Bond owns a Mark VI Bentley after his pre-war 4½ Blower is wrecked.
5 Fast Facts
- 1. First post-war Bentley (announced May 1946); 4.25→4.5 F-head six.
- 2. 4,001 built (1946–52), 3,171 of them standard-steel saloons.
- 3. Shared chassis and body with the Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn (1949).
- 4. The R-Type (1952) added a bigger boot and more power.
- 5. The platform that spawned the R-Type Continental fastback.
Provenance
Owners & what to look for
Famous Owners
James Bond — in Ian Fleming’s novels, 007 drives a Mark VI Bentley after his pre-war Blower is wrecked. (Documented; James Bond literary canon.) Otherwise a period establishment/aristocratic clientele, not individually documented.
Studio Buyer’s Brief
Standard-steel saloons are the value entry; coachbuilt dropheads (Park Ward, Mulliner) command big premiums. Rust in the post-war steel body is THE issue — inspect it forensically; the R-Type’s bigger boot is the more usable choice.
Full Specifications
- Make / Model
- Bentley Mark VI / R-Type
- Class
- Luxury Saloon
- Production years
- 1946–1955
- Units built
- 5,208 Mark VI (1946–52) + 2,320 R-Type (1952–55)
- Variants
- R-Type (1952–55, more power & larger boot); coachbuilt drophead & sports saloons
- Engine layout
- Front
- Engine
- Inline-6
- Engine family
- Rolls-Royce B60 Inline-Six (F-head)
- Displacement
- 4,566 cc (4.5 L); 4,257 cc early
- Power
- 130 hp
- Torque
- lb-ft
- 0–60 mph
- 13.8 s
- Top speed
- 100 mph
- Power-to-weight
- 72 hp/tonne · 30.8 lb/hp
- Transmission
- 4-speed manual (auto optional from 1952)
- Drivetrain
- RWD · Petrol
- Curb weight
- 4000 lb
Questions
Mark VI / R-Type FAQ
Why was the Bentley Mark VI historically significant?
Announced in May 1946, the Mark VI was the first post-war Bentley and the first Rolls-Royce or Bentley to offer factory all-steel coachwork, ending the tradition of sending rolling chassis to outside coachbuilders. This standard-steel body made Bentley more accessible and reshaped how the company operated.
What is the difference between the Bentley Mark VI and the R-Type?
The R-Type, introduced in 1952 as the Mark VI’s successor, featured a redesigned and enlarged boot lid, a slightly more powerful 4.5-litre engine, and an optional automatic gearbox. It also spawned the R-Type Continental fastback, the fastest four-seater of its day.
What engine does the Bentley Mark VI use?
The Bentley Mark VI uses an F-head inline-six engine, initially 4,257 cc and later enlarged to 4,566 cc, producing approximately 130 horsepower. A four-speed manual gearbox was standard, with an automatic option available from the R-Type in 1952.
Can you lease a Bentley Mark VI?
Yes, specialty lenders structure collector-car leases regardless of model year.
How was the Bentley Mark VI related to the Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn?
The Mark VI shared its standard-steel body, chassis, and mechanical components with the Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn, which entered production in 1949. The two cars differed only in their grilles, bonnet lines, mascots, and instruments, making the Silver Dawn effectively a Rolls-Royce-badged version of the same car.
The Bentley Lineup
Explore every Bentley
3 Litre ’216½ Litre / Speed Six ’264½ Litre ’27Blower 4½ Litre ’29
Mark VI / R-Type ’46
R-Type Continental ’52S1 Continental ’55S-Type Saloon (S1/S2/S3) ’55S2/S3 Continental ’59
Mulsanne (1980) ’80Turbo R ’85
Continental R ’91Azure ’95Arnage ’98
Continental GT (1st gen) ’03Continental Flying Spur ’05Azure (2nd gen) ’06Brooklands (Coupé) ’08
Mulsanne (2010) ’10Continental GT (2nd gen) ’11Flying Spur (2nd gen) ’13Bentayga ’15Continental GT (3rd gen) ’18Flying Spur (3rd gen) ’19
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