Bentley Mark VI Racing Green Engineering Le Mans Eight, 1950
Bentley Mark VI
Bentley Mark VI•
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Chassis No.: B234JO
Engine No.: B81 22958
Estimate: £250,000 - £300,000 GBP
- Completed in 2006
- Rolls-Royce B81 straight-eight engine
- Detailed specification on file
- Present ownership since 2007
The specification (see breakdown in the history file) reveals that this Le Mans Eight is based on a refurbished and extended Bentley Mark VI, complete with its Luvax-Bijur chassis lubrication system. This leviathan is powered by a 6½-litre Rolls-Royce B81 straight-eight engine, which breathes via a quartet of SU H6 carburettors mounted on a balanced and polished aluminium inlet manifold. This mighty power unit belongs to the B-series of engines developed towards the end of WW2 for military and commercial purposes. Maximum power output of a standard B81 was around 195bhp at 3,750rpm, a figure that this unit, with its superior induction arrangements, should exceed comfortably.
Other notable features include a long-range Le Mans-style fuel tank (capacity 35 gallons); a big-bore straight-through exhaust system with fishtail outlets; and nickel plated brightwork throughout.
The body is constructed over an ash frame, which is panelled in aluminium and covered with wadding and green Rexine, while the folding windscreen benefits from being fitted with safety glass. Weather equipment includes a full length tonneau and a double-duck retractable hood with hood bag. The interior is upholstered in leather, with - importantly - adjustable driver's and passenger's bucket seats, and matching high quality woven carpets. There is also a full complement of period-style instrumentation mounted on engine-turned aluminium dashboard.
Recording the car's complete history since its conversion by Racing Green Engineering, the accompanying file contains copies of original build sheets from Bentley Motors; a breakdown of maintenance works since 2007 (bills totalling over £29,000); the original old-style buff logbook for 'LXC 319'; various photographs; and a quantity of MoTs dating back to 2006 when the mileage was recorded as 60,440 (the current odometer reading is circa 75,000 miles). The Bentley is currently MoT'd to August 2023, although testing is no longer required.
