Bentley 'Barn Find'

Here's one of those cars that we know are out there. But just where, we will never know until someone stumbles across it.

A fellow RROC member has just got his hands on this lovely very original unrestored 1948 Bentley Mk VI.

An H.J.Mulliner bodied car originally sold new by Jack Barclay. 

The first owner only had it a few months and then Barclay's resold it for the same price to the second owner with a full warranty....

In 1970 (when just a twenty two year old vehicle) it was purchased in London by an American dentist and shipped to his home near Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 

That owner passed away in 1980 and it was then sold to a couple who were family friends. The husband passed away in 1990 and his wife then had the car made ready for winter storage where it remained.

The family had the car for thirty six years. Twenty six years untouched in safe, secure, proper  'winter storage'.

When she died this year the car was recommissioned and my friend purchased it.

It's all original except some 1960's American carpeting.

One of those cars that poses the tough question of whether to do a nice tidy restoration or clean & polish all those original finishes and surfaces.

The factory build sheets show that it was originally ordered with a canvas luggage set and what seem to be removable 'loose' seat covers. They have gone astray but an effort is being made to locate these or a similar set.

Personally, I would leave everything original (even that old American carpet) and polish, scrub and touch it up.

It really is a lovely 'time warp' piece.

Thanks to 'TM' for the story and photos. I look forward to seeing her.

(Posted by David Irvine)