Bentley MkVI

Restored Cars, March 2008
Australian magazine
 
This book covers the development and production history of the elegant and luxurious mainstream Rolls-Royce and Bentley models built between 1947 and 1965. Arguably, these cars, all built on chassis and echoing pre-war practices, were the last of the 'traditional' Rolls-Royce and Bentley models. Many of these cars have survived to the present day, all are eminently collectible. Concept design and development, production, promotion, publicity and the coach built cars are covered and there is also helpful practical advice on buying and running these cars, together with chassis number sequences and dates, build numbers and modifications and development by chassis number. Illustrated with over 160 black and white and color photographs, this book is a must-have for anyone interested in automotive history.

Beaded Wheels, February 2008

Review by Mark Holman
Magazine for the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand
 
The latest in a series of 'Classic Reprints' by Veloce, Nutland's book was first published in 1997. It's an excellent example of how a 'model history' should be.

As its lengthy title suggests, the book covers a range of Bentley and Rolls-Royce models. It's no simple take on their history, either. There's plenty on the development of the cars, their engineering, production, standard and coachbuilt bodywork and interiors – from James Young to Franay, competition exploits – especially Mike Couper's frequent Monte Carlo rally successes, specials, sales and promotion (including some reprinted brochures). There are some wonderful technical details: for example, assembling the hydramatic gearboxes involved drying with compressed air, component storage in glass-topped cabinets and honing the oil control valve box with pulverized coconut shell and ground oat husks. And the people involved get as much attention as the 'nuts & bolts' – from various owners, staff in the factory and dealers, engineers like Grylls and race drivers including Roy Salvadori.

At first glance it seems quite a slim book for the price. But each page carries a lot of text and there are plenty of photos, so it ends up being a more substantial read than you might think.

What do you get for the money? Essentially, it's the benefit of reading an author who really seems to know his stuff and isn't afraid to express his opinions; someone who's gone to plenty of sources for his facts and anecdotes and who has also taken trouble to assemble a good selection of illustrations.

While I am sure I will never own one of these classic Crewe/Derby cars, if I did – or if I were even remotely interested in buying or restoring one – this would certainly be on my reading list. Definitely recommended.

The Automobile, January 2008

Although generically titled Bentley Mk VI, this book embraces all the Crewe-made cars from 1947 to 1965, including therefore the V-8-engined cars, the last before the arrival of the unitary-bodied Shadow/T-type. The first half covers the development of the various models, including special coachwork versions, in succinct detail with appropriate illustrations. After a look at competition performances (specials and the Monte Carlo rally), the author gives guidance on purchase, maintenance and restoration, closing with chassis-number appendices.  A very useful introduction to anyone contemplating buying one of these cars.

Automobile Quarterly, Vol 47, No.2
US magazine
 

Ask any Rolls-Royce or Bentley enthusiast and they will extol these marques' last breed of 'traditional' models. 'Bentley MkVI' by Martyn Nutland covers these models in-depth, or at least satisfactory enough for most interested parties. It is the history of the development and production of the elegant and luxurious mainstream Rolls-Royce and Bentley models built between 1947 and 1965 that Nutland mines and presents in an easy-to-read, conversational style. The chapters are short for quick fact-checking, and each is packed with appropriate historical photography.

The story majors on the central model, the Bentley MkVI. Arguably, these models – all built on chassis, and so echoing prewar practices – were the last of the 'traditional' Rolls-Royces and Bentleys. Many of these cars have survived to the present day; all are eminently collectible and very useable, even in today's traffic conditions.

This reprint of Nutland's seminal work on the Bentley MkVl and associated Rolls-Royce and Bentley models is an edition reformatted with minor revisions. (The first edition was published in 1997). A 17-page color gallery provides a pleasant gathering of stately models. For the technically curious, appendices that identify such details as year-by-year modifications and build numbers for the various models prove most helpful.

The author is a journalist who has been covering historic motoring subjects for 43 years. He is a former editor of the Bentley Drivers Club Review.