Topic: Solved - NEH 2133: Pinin Farina Bentley Mk VI Cresta Continental by Facel-Métallon - 1949

[Carnut]

What's this, by whom, from when - for 1 point:

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[carsalesbrochure]

It is a Bentley Mark VI designed by Pininfarina and built by the French company Facel-Métallon. It was codenamed Cresta and displayed at the 1948 Paris Salon and 1949 Geneva Show.

[Carnut]

It is a Bentley Mark VI designed by Pininfarina and built by the French company Facel-Métallon. It was codenamed Cresta and displayed at the 1948 Paris Salon and 1949 Geneva Show.

I think you have it really.
It's actually the 1949 version designed by Pinin Farina (not Pininfarina!) and constructed by Facel-Métallon as you say.
The slightly different 1948 version was a recent puzzle of mine:

www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=21448.0

[bentleybob]

Actually, the very earliest car has both Pininfarina badges and Facel Metallon badges, and there are plenty of indications the body was hammered and put together by Pinin Farina and then transported down to Paris to be studied by the Facel people, before being put on a chassis and finished in time for the 1948 Paris Salon. Bentley Motors then 'suggested' a radiator more in keeping with the car being a Bentley, hence the change.

[Carnut]

It's not actually the same car with a new front though is it?
They both still existed side-by-side?

I say that because I note the earlier version has a one-piece windscreen whilst the screen on the later 1949 version is two-piece...

[bentleybob]

The numbers produced are larger than people assume. there are twelve first series and one second series car. Of the first series both wide and upright front exist with divided and two part windscreens, and in lhd and rhd format. Some were changed to left hand drive, some have been restored back to original specification.

[Carnut]

The numbers produced are larger than people assume. there are twelve first series and one second series car. Of the first series both wide and upright front exist with divided and two part windscreens, and in lhd and rhd format. Some were changed to left hand drive, some have been restored back to original specification.

Thanks Bob.
Any idea how many still exist?  All of them maybe?

[bentleybob]

I think most of them exist, even if a few are still waiting for restoration (a costly affair), or have not been seen for years. Most people don't realise the sheer size of these cars. They are much wider inside than a regular Mark VI, and the driving position is rather odd, because the steering wheel is nearer to the centre of the car than usual. I have only driven one (a ten recently restored example, RHD, with the upright nose) once, and not at a great distance, but this is a fairly heavy body and the performance is not fantastic. It paved the way for the mindset of Bentley Motors to allow the R-type Continental to go ahead though..