Bentley Motors Korea’s domestic partner, Bentley Seoul, will unveil the 1939 Bentley Mark V Sports Saloon, the last Grand Tour sedan of the Derby Era, for the first time in South Korea.
The Bentley Mark V is the last Bentley vehicle produced at the Derby factory before the historic Crewe factory was established. It is celebrated as a monumental model that elegantly concludes the Derby Era with its beautiful design and innovative engineering, laying the groundwork for the post-war Crewe Era. Notably, very few vehicles were produced due to World War II, and today, only a handful of these vehicles survive, making them highly valuable classic Bentleys.
Founded in 1919 in Cricklewood, North London, Bentley Motors moved its production base to Derby in central England in 1933. The so-called ‘Derby Bentleys’ produced at the Derby factory gained great commercial success for their elegant ride and excellent driving performance, with over 2,400 Bentley vehicles manufactured there between 1933 and 1939.
Bentley developed the Mark V as a successor to the highly popular 4¼ liter model, aiming for a luxury grand touring car with even better driving performance. While the exterior of the Mark V was not significantly different from the 4¼ liter, the chassis underlying the vehicle was newly designed. The deeper structured side members significantly enhanced the body rigidity, improving ride quality and accommodating a new front suspension.
Unlike the beam axle style front suspensions used by most contemporaneous vehicles, the Mark V featured independent double-wishbone front suspension. This innovative independent suspension not only improved ride comfort but also maintained stable traction on uneven surfaces, boasting remarkable handling performance.
The engine displacement remained the same at 4¼L (4,257cc), but design improvements reduced the number of timing gears, enhancing reliability. Thanks to the independent front suspension, the Mark V could position the engine further forward, reducing noise and vibration transmitted to passengers. With a synchronized transmission featuring synchronomesh in gears 2-4, the enjoyment of driving was amplified, and the transmission lever’s position was relocated to further decrease noise.
As such, the Mark V gained the nickname ‘The Silent Sports Car’ with its superior ride quality, sharp handling, exceptional quietness, and comfort.
Bentley Motors began producing prototypes of the Mark V in 1938, conducting test drives throughout Europe. True to Bentley’s mission of creating the world’s most elegant and powerful grand tourer, the Mark V successfully completed its tests and was set to debut at the 1939 Olympia Motor Show.
However, with the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, the motor show was canceled, and production plans for the Mark V were disrupted. The UK government issued directives to halt civilian vehicle production and transition to arms manufacturing, leading Bentley to be repurposed for war preparations. A factory for fighter plane engines was built in Crewe, safe from bombings and conducive to railway transport, and after the war, all vehicle production facilities were moved to Crewe, marking the end of the Derby Era.
Although the Mark V was limited to a total of 17 chassis and 11 vehicles produced due to the war, its legacy continued with the ‘Crewe Bentleys’ produced post-war. The successor to the Mark V, the Mark VI, inherited innovative engineering features like the independent front suspension and synchronization transmission, with over 5,200 units produced, marking the beginning of the Crewe Era. Thus, the Mark V can be seen as a monumental model that laid the foundation for today’s ‘Crewe Bentleys.’
The initial production lot of the Mark V was planned for 35 vehicles, using only even chassis numbers from B-2-AW to B-70-AW. However, only 17 chassis were actually produced, with the remaining 18 cancellations.
The Mark V was produced as a chassis fitted with an engine, allowing coachbuilders to complete the body in a bespoke order. Of the 17, only 11 had their bodies fully assembled, with most being completed by the renowned British luxury coachbuilder Park Ward. Out of the 11, only 7 vehicles remain today, making the Mark V one of the rarest classic Bentleys.
The Mark V on display at Bentley Seoul (chassis number B-32-AW) was first ordered on July 7, 1939, by luxury coachbuilder James Young, intended for display at the New York World’s Fair as a 2-door coupe. However, the outbreak of World War II led to the cancellation of the order, and later, in May 1940, Park Ward assembled it into a 4-door Sports Saloon. In October of the same year, the vehicle became the first owned by the notable British journalist G. Geoffrey Smith.
After passing through several owners, the B-32-AW Mark V was included in Bentley Motors’ heritage collection, restored by Bentley Motors itself. In 2021, it was exhibited in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Crewe factory. In 2023, Bentley Seoul introduced the Mark V to Korea, completing roughly a year’s worth of restoration before unveiling it in September 2024.
Bentley Seoul exhibits the 1939 Bentley Mark V at the 4th floor experience lounge of Bentley Tower in Dongdaemun, Seoul, while also operating the Mark V Heritage Garage.
The Heritage Garage showcases both the Mark V and the latest Bentley models, creating an environment where visitors can experience a century-spanning heritage, innovative engineering, the dynamic nature of Bentley, and exclusive luxury.
In addition to the permanent exhibition, there are plans for various programs centered around the Mark V to experience Bentley heritage and brand values.
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr