Most luxury cars were sold in full chassis format, The chassis was then shipped to the Coach builder chosen by the customer for a full custom body.Some bodies were completely custom built as 'one off' styles while others were built to a 'stock' style designed by the coach builder with modifications suiting the new owner.
Bentley cars were mainly coach built by UK companies, however a few were styled by famous European coach builders. Sadly, the art of coach building declined in the 1950's. This was possibly due to a number of factors.
Manufacturers were changing the way car bodies were built and many did not have full chassis's and in recent years customers, especially with 'new wealth' are of the 'want it now' mentality and not inclined to wait months and in some cases years for their new car to be built.
Here's a selection of Bentley Coach built cars.
1937 Bentley 4.25 Litre 4 seat Drop Head Coupe (DHC) by James Young
1937 Bentley 4.25 Litre 4 seat Touring Drop Head Coupe by Vanden Plas
1937 Bentley 4,25 Litre 4 seat Drop Head Coupe by Park Ward
1938 Bentley 4.5 Litre Sedanca De Ville (open top drivers position possibly with a fabric roll out cover) by Gurney Nutting
1935 Bentley 3.5 litre designed by Lord Portarlington and built by Windovers
1950 Bentley Mark VI 2 door Coupe De Ville by James Young
1952 Bentley Continental R Type built by Graber of Switzerland
Antoher image of the 1952 Bentley Continental R Type built by Graber of Switzerland
1956 Bentley S1 Sports Saloon by Freestone and Webb
1956 Bentley Continental 2 Door by Park Ward
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