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Topic starter
19/02/2024 10:06 pm
The 1947 Bentley MkVl Drophead Coupé was the second year of this first postwar chassis which amazes me as the Brits were flat on their backs after the war. I guessed they made a major gamble that some people were still rich (and a Frenchman, no less) . The coachwork (AKA: "dressing of the chassis") was fabricated in the factory of Marius Franay in a Paris suburb. The chromed swirling trim seemed right out of the Figoni et Falaschi handbook, but at the time, Franay was the president of the Association of French Coachbuilders so I guess that gave him license to create this, let's say, derivative design. For post war Rolls and Bentleys, Franay was the go-to guy with 18 different bodies made in those years. The car was built for a French paper mill heir A J Liechti who put many miles on the car traveling through the Continent to his many homes.The MkVl chassis included a 4 1/4 liter 150 hp 6 cylinder with a a 4 speed manual transmission. The car was basically a 2 seater with a single side mounted rear seat that made room for a refrigerator/bar w/ fitted crystal stemware behind the driver. This one of a kind Bentley (although a Rolls Silver Wraith has a similar design) has won numerous awards and was sold at Amelia Island in 2017 for $396K. It certainly outlasted the Franay Coachworks which folded in 1956, done in like others of his profession, by the advent of unibody automobile construction.
19/02/2024 10:59 pm
Striking car and model! Didn't know the story behind it though. Thanks Rich. I actually have the frog hood ornament version.
Tony Perrone reacted
Topic starter
20/02/2024 8:57 am
@geoff-jowett I bought the "Frog Edition" also... Don't ask me why.
Geoff Jowett and Tony Perrone reacted
20/02/2024 9:59 am
That is also one of the few models I can recall with replicated grill badges.
20/02/2024 1:06 pm
Thanks Rich for the great backstory on this luxury Bentley. I read A J Liechti commissioned this build to show the world that no only had France withstood the rigors of WWII but was ready once again to assert it's dominance of haute couture and automotive design elegance. He succeeded by winning the top prize at his first showing in Enghien Belgium at the 1947 European Concours d'Elegance. He followed that up with another grand prize at the 1948 European Concours d' Elegance held at Bois de Bologne Park in Paris France. The '47 Bentley was eventually sold to an English aristocrat who restored her to her original glory going on to capture another 27 more major awards since 1990. I have the Franklin Mint 1947 Bentley Mark VI with Franay coachwork, this rolling sculpture called "Mr. Zippity Do Da" has the golden frog raising from the flying B wings as it's hood adornment.
Topic starter
20/02/2024 1:12 pm
Thanks Rich for the great backstory on this luxury Bentley. I read A J Liechti commissioned this build to show the world that no only had France withstood the rigors of WWII but was ready once again to assert it's dominance of haute couture and automotive design elegance. One might assume he spent the war years in unoccupied Vichy France with lumber contracts with the Germans mixing capitalism with collaboration.
Geoff Jowett and David Green reacted
20/02/2024 1:31 pm
Interesting French take on a British classic.Great post and information, Rich and machouse1.