Bentley MkVI Drophead Park Ward
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2019-04-25T12:17:17+10:00
After the London motor show it was sold to George Ellison Ltd of Birmingham, a manufacturer of electric switchgear, founded in 1898. Like so many glamorous cars, it was not destined for Hollywood or the French Riviera but an industrialist in the Midlands. It finally got its time in the sun when it arrived in Sydney in the mid-1980s and for a number of years formed part of the John Laws collection. It is one of only 22 RHD versions in the world manufactured with this Park Ward Drophead Coupe design and the very first Park Ward coach built 4.5 litre Bentley vehicle.
This is the only car of its kind in Australia. Luxuries such as the power operated hood, a push button radio and sliding bucket front seats were rare in the early fifties, and the price alone would have ensured its exclusivity. Price new: £6,309-5-7 incl tax (An FJ Holden cost about £700 and average home £1,000 – £2,000 in 1951).
The Bentley returned to the UK in 2018 for various Bentley functions and meetings, proving popular with UK Bentley enthusiasts.