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Notes
for the Enthusiast Rolls-Royce acquired Bentley in 1931. Before 1939 all Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars were supplied as 'chassis-only' to specialist coach builders usually to have bodywork painstakingly constructed to customers' often very demanding specifications. This was a very expensive, time consuming process and plans to introduce a more cost-effective 'standardised' car were interrupted by war in 1939. During World War II all car production ceased as Rolls-Royce's efforts turned to the manufacture of military engines, especially the famous Merlin aero engine which powered many warplanes such as Spitfire, Hurricane, Mosquito and Lancaster. A second factory was established at Crewe in 1938 to increase manufacturing capacity. In 1945 when peace was restored all aircraft engine manufacturing returned to Derby and car production was concentrated at the new Crewe factory following the pre-war plan to build a 'standardised' car in similar Bentley and Rolls-Royce forms. Introduced in 1946, the 41/4 litre Bentley Mark VI saloon was the first 'standardised' car ever produced by Rolls-Royce and the first to be built in volume at Crewe. Continuous development brought a more powerful 41/2 litre engine in 1951 and the improved Mark VI was capable of 100 mph. In 1952 the 41/2 litre Mark VI 'grew' a larger boot to become the 'R'-type and automatic transmission was introduced. The Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn evolved with it's Bentley sister car enjoying similar styling and mechanical improvements. Production of both ceased in 1955 with the introduction of the new Bentley 'S'-type and the almost identical Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud. Crosby
Classic Bentleys featured:-
If required we call upon fellow Enthusiasts to provide extra, matching
cars
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