Vehicle Description
Chassis No. B184MD
Engine No. BC95B
Following World War II, England, along with the rest of the world,
returned to peacetime and the Rolls-Royce and Bentley Motor
Companies transferred their motor car division from Derby to Crewe.
The majority of Bentley Mark VI chassis produced between 1946 and
1952 wore steel four-door "saloon" bodies from the Pressed Steel
Company, and were fully assembled in the Bentley Works. About
twenty percent of the Mark VI chassis produced were consigned to
coachbuilders for special bodies for discriminating first owners.
The car offered today is one of those that received custom
coachwork, and what a special body it is! Originally it wore a
closed fixed-head design by Carosserie Graber, a Swiss
coachbuilder, who designed and built eighteen bodies for the
Bentley Mark VI chassis. Displayed in that configuration at the
1952 Geneva Motor Show, it soon after returned to Graber and was
transformed into the elegant drophead coupe you see today. The
sleek streamlined body wears pontoon-style fenders, melding
exquisite design cues to include unique integrated air vents and
matching, highly-desirable Marchal head, side, and fog lights. Its
first owner is understood to have been Walter Gemuseus of Zurich,
Switzerland.
By the 1960s, this rare British-Swiss hybrid arrived in the US
where it was regularly driven by a naval commander in Newport
Beach, California, who is understood to have kept the car until the
1980s. Another long-term Southern California ownership would follow
until the car was acquired by prominent Rolls-Royce and Bentley
collector Gene Epstein of Pennsylvania in the mid-2000s. Under
Epstein's careful eye, marque specialists were entrusted to
complete a ground-up restoration wherein the body was taken down to
bare metal, repaired as necessary, then properly refinished in a
gleaming dark forest green, similar to "British Racing Green." The
meticulously trimmed saddle leather interior was well chosen and is
an outstanding complement to the elegant green exterior. When
lowered, the tan leather convertible top can be tidily stowed away
beneath its matching fitted tonneau boot. Dark green wool
carpeting, bound with tan leather, lines the footwells. Its
matching numbers 4,566 cc inline-six engine, with twin SU
carburetors, was carefully rebuilt over the course of the two-year
restoration, while other mechanical components were restored as
necessary to ensure a confident driving experience. The torquey,
yet surprisingly silky inline-six remains coupled to its original
four-speed manual transmission. Servo-assisted front and mechanical
hydraulic rear drum brakes provide efficient stopping power.
Independent front suspension and semi-elliptical leaf and
adjustable spring rear with hydraulic shock dampers combine to
offer the driver and passengers the ultimate in comfort while
underway. Correct wheels wear Coker Classic whitewall tires, and a
matching spare is tucked into the boot. Polished wheel covers
feature body-color matching trim rings, embellished with elegant
pin striping, matching the coach-line accents and enhancing the
sleek body design. Upon completion of the restoration in 2009, the
car would be enjoyed and shown for several years, earning an AACA
First Junior Award at the Hershey National Meet in 2009, and
receiving recognition at the Greenwich Concours d'Elegance, among
other events. Notably, B184MD was normally driven, rather than
trailered to these events. In 2014 the car would pass to
well-respected Florida-based Rolls-Royce and Bentley enthusiast
Orin Smith, before ultimately being reacquired by Epstein in
2018.
Upon acquisition by its present owner in 2020, a decision was made
to further improve on the work completed under Epstein's
stewardship, with an eye toward competing at the Pebble Beach
Concours d'Elegance. Receipts on file chronicle the extensive
cosmetic, mechanical, and detail refinements that were deemed
necessary to present the car to a discerning panel of Pebble Beach
judges. The result of this extraordinary effort was well rewarded
at the 2022 Pebble Beach Concours with a First Place in Class P-2:
Graber Coachwork Late, a clear testament both to the elegance of
the flowing Graber body lines and to the correct nature of B184MD's
restoration and current presentation.
The right-hand drive, manual transmission Bentley is offered with a
brilliant set of Antler luggage, a period-correct fitted wicker
picnic hamper, a rare French language instruction manual, as well
as photo documentation from the restoration. Special-order extras
as listed on the original build sheets include a lowered steering
column to accommodate the original owner's physique. "Town and
Country" horns, another special order, were fitted and still
announce the car's presence. Among other charming features are a
passenger-side drinks cabinet, rear seat passengers' dome light,
and a wonderful display of unique finish details throughout. The
rosewood burled instrument fascia frames full Smiths
instrumentation including a 180 kph speedometer with a rare and
original gauge that monitors oil pressure, amperage, coolant
temperature, and fuel level. The jewel-like electric clock is
centered in the glovebox door.
Bentley enthusiasts universally agree that the early postwar
Bentley cars, like the Mark VI, offer elegant road manners and a
unique behind-the-wheel experience that is at once thrilling and
unforgettable. Lovely in its subtle elegant lines, this is among
the most beautiful Graber designs on the Bentley Mark VI chassis.
Offering equal parts timeless design and superior quality, it
remains in excellent, show-quality condition.
