Bentley Mark V

The Bentley Mark V was the second Bentley model built after Rolls-Royce took over the marque, and it was meant to be announced at the Earl's Court Motor Show in late October 1939. War was declared in early September 1939, and within days Bentley said it had stopped making civilian products, so almost none were completed. It had a new chassis with very deep side rails and an independent front suspension in place of the old beam axle, with the engine of the 4 and a quarter litre car it replaced and fewer timing gears, and synchromesh on every gear except first and reverse. Like its predecessors it was sold only as a bare chassis for a coachbuilder of the owner's choice, and it proved to be the last of the Derby Bentleys before production moved to Crewe after the war.