A stately saloon can sometimes go fast, too
The Bentley Mark VI is one of Bentley’s classic sports saloons from an era when British cars were stately, with a presence not far from the royal family members they often chartered around town. This Roadster-Bodied 1949 Bentley Mark VI Special is, however, far from the sports saloon it once was. What it lacks in passenger space, it now makes up for in sporting performance. It’s available for your perusal on Bring a Trailer, and you can check out the full listing by clicking here.
This 1949 Bentley Mark VI began life as a right-hand-drive saloon but was transformed with a custom roadster body constructed by Jack Buckley Coachwork of Oldham, England, in 1992. That body is finished in red over tan leather upholstery, with tan panels on the rear-hinged doors and red carpets. A single outside mirror is mounted on the driver’s side of the windshield, so I hope your reversing skills are top-notch.
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The cabin sports a classic wood-paneled dashboard with a built-in glovebox, a center-mounted rearview mirror, as well as gauges for the speed, amperage, water temperature, oil pressure, and fuel level. A sizable three-spoke steering wheel sits on the right-hand side, as it is a British car after all, and door storage pockets give you some protected interior space to keep your belongings. Unfortunately, the clock, fuel gauge, and five-digit odometer do not work, and the total mileage is unknown.
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Its heart is in the right place and improved
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Under the long bonnet and just ahead of the polished radiator topped with a “Flying B” mascot is a replacement 4.25L F-head inline-six engine sourced from another Mark VI. It is equipped with twin SU carburetors that were rebuilt and synchronized in 2025 and mated to a four-speed manual transmission with synchromesh on the top three gears. According to the seller, this Bentley underwent some servicing in October 2025, during which time the fuel tank was drained and cleaned, a replacement battery was installed, the wiring harness was repaired, and the oil and coolant were changed.
This roadster-bodied British beast sits on coil-sprung independent front suspension with a live axle with leaf springs, and it was reportedly modified during the original conversion process in 1992 by Greenfield Engineering in England. The front suspension was repainted black in 2022, and a replacement rear wheel bearing was fitted in February 2024. Stopping is handled by four-wheel drum brakes, so keep the distance between you and the car ahead in mind at all times.
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Final thoughts
Personally, I’m torn on this car. On one hand, the original Bentley Mark VI saloon is a gorgeous automobile, and represents everything you imagine when the words “opulent British car” come to mind. Seeing it converted into a roadster that carries over none of the features that make the original so great, save for the engine, feels like a travesty. On the other hand, you can’t knock the driving fun of a British roadster. Other than the tires, which I feel like aren’t the best-looking choice for a car like this, this thing looks like a proper good time on the road. It even has period-correct wire-spoke wheels with Bentley-branded knock-off hubs.
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The current bid sits at $8,000 and ends in two days, so if you play your cards right, you might be able to snag this roadster-bodied 1949 Bentley Mark VI Special for a real bargain. Included in the sale are a tan tonneau cover, copies of the factory build records, a letter from the Rolls-Royce Foundation, recent service records, and a clean California title in the name of the owner’s trust.
About the author
Gabriel Ionica
Senior Editor, Autoblog