1947 Bentley Mark VI Cabriolet, bodied by Franay

1947 Bentley Mark VI Cabriolet, bodied by Franay

Featured at the 1947 Paris Auto Show.

This amazing automobile exhibits unparalleled design elements. From its flowing, sculptured body with chrome accents to its extraordinary interior featuring Frog hide. No detail was over looked. Separate compartments house a variety of glasses and silver based stemware, compartments for drinking flasks and crystal decanters, specialty tools, light bulbs and of course the specialized jack. There is a custom Franay suit case in a fitted compartment. A jump seat, also adorned with Frog hide is behind the front seat and folds neatly away. There is even a pair of matching ladies shoes and hand bag crafted from the matching Frog hide. It has a 3 position folding convertible top with twin, beveled, oval rear windows. And the list goes on from there…

This is the first major winning Concours d’Elegance car after WWII.

Winning the first two major Concours in 1948, back-to-back, on the 12th of June at Enghien and the 17th of June at Bois de Bolougne.

Mr. Gudol, the original owner and visionary of the Franay, was an industrialist whose sole purpose was to prove to the world that France was not only back from the rigors of war, but ready to reassert its dominance of haute couture and automotive design elegance.

The awards the Franay has won over the decades is proof of his timeless vision.

Universally recognized as the most successful and expensive post war Bentley/Rolls-Royce automobile of all time, with the Concours and auction record to prove it. With over 50 show wins and honors it has earned its place in the record books. In August of 1991 at the Rolls-Royce National Meet the Bentley Franay was judged by its peers as “Best of Show” among all competing Rolls-Royce and Bentley automobiles from around the world. Then again in August of 1999 at the Rolls-Royce National Meet held at Dana Point, Calif. it again proved to the world that it was the best by winning the most coveted award that the RROC (Rolls-Royce Owners Club) could bestow, the Royce Memorial Trophy and top senior award “Best of Prior Best of Show.” It is also worthy to note that the Bentley Franay, in June of 1995 was awarded “Best of Show” at Hurlingham, England Concours D’Elegance, England’s equivalent of our Pebble Beach. It also received the “Spectator Trophy,” the “People’s Choice” and most popular car in the show.

The Bentley Franay is so special that The Franklin Mint crafted a special model to commemorate this one of a kind automobile.