24353 1949 Bently Mark VI (Astoria, NY)

24353 1949 Bently Mark VI

Exceptionally Rare 1949 Bently Mark VI Shooting Brake with Coachwork by Rippon Brothers Ltd. This extremely rare 1949 Bently Mark VI Shooting Brake with Coachwork by Rippon Brothers Ltd. was commissioned this way from new having been ordered by its first owner in the form that we still see it in today. The coachbuilder was Rippon Brothers a house that could chart its history back to the carriage building days of the late 1890s. Factory records on file confirm B91FU to have been built as a Shooting Brake and the original owner of the Bentley fitted that mold perfectly. Colonel George Hammond Aykroyd was part of the family dynasty that ran the huge carpet business of T. F. Firth and Co. in Bailiff Bridge in the West Yorkshire county of the United Kingdom as they would have said a stone s throw from Rippon. Most likely reflecting the extreme costs of such an exercise in the conservative post war Britain he was one of only two people to have one of these cars built and curiously enough today both have found themselves to the USA. As a master of foxhounds Col. Aykroyds Shooting Brake would have most likely been used for the type of work its name suggests hunting. Sensibly the spare tire was moved to free up space in the rear of the car and placed on the front right fender while its rear seat could be folded forward for further storage if necessary. It is believed that the trusty Brake remained in the family for some years no doubt having seen routine service at hunting parties on the Moors. In 1961 the Bentley moved south to the Bristol area and became the property of R. Acheson Crow. This is the last recorded British owner before the car migrated to the US in 1980 and arrived in the distinctly different climate of California. Currently Royal Blue with tan interior. The woodwork appears to have been beautifully preserved and sympathetically refinished and is of particular appeal. The paint is presentable but not without a few flaws at this point. Mechanically sound the Bentley runs and drives well and has been used periodically on trips to the golf club and other such excursions. An exciting addition to any Bentley enthusiasts collection. This exceptional rarity is not to be overlooked. Chassis no. B91 FUEngine no. B294 F4 257cc OHV Inline 6-Cylinder Engine4-Speed Manual TransmissionOne of only two Rippon Shooting Brakes built Prestigious chain of ownership Factory records on file A sporting and practical Bentley statement Price 149 500