1950 Bentley Special Open Two Seater Oxford by Mallalieu.

Mallalieu Motor Car Company was started by Derry Mallalieu, who was a racing and vintage car enthusiast.

Derry built his first MK VI-based Special in America for his own use, but after constructing 2 similar cars to special request, he decided to return to the UK to build the cars commercially. He set up a small engineering shop.
Derry died in 1975 and Pauline Mallalieu and her husband, Noel Hodson, took over the firm. Mallalieu produced various two and four-seat open tourers.
Models are: Durham, Barchetta, Mercia and finally the Oxford.

At the end, the completed cars were being priced at 45,000 GBP, nearly as expensive as some new Bentley saloons from the Crewe factory.
Mallalieu Engineering went bankrupt in October 1980.

The car presented in this auction is believed to be the Oxford prototype in aluminium. Mallalieu only produced 7 Oxfords.

Donor car is a Bentley MKVI built in December 1949 as a black saloon car.
First owner H. Stutt Whittaker registered the car as MLG 645.
Original English license plate is still on hand.

This example was ordered and owned by Bob Warman (a well-know TV presentator on ITV - UK). Bob Warman sold his car to Jan and Leny Velthuizen in October 1978. The present owner bought the car from Velthuizen in 2018.

Picture MLG645 4 shows the car with Pauline Mallalieu and Robin Read (one of the craftsmen) pictured in the "Daily Mail" newspaper on Wednesday, October 25 1978. The article was about "Women in Business", not the car.

Purchased in 2018 by the current vendor, the car has since benefited from a sympathetic restoration by highly respected specialists Belrose Classics.

Sympathetically restored, yet still in outstandingly original condition, this magnificent motor car comes with a history file containing video's, fascinating paperwork; contemporary advertisements; sales brochures, invoices, original UK licence plate MLG 645, etc.

In 2020 the ignition system has been replaced - new distributor, new wires, electronic ignition
In 2021 the gearbox was overhauled and revised by a specialised firm in the UK
In 2022 the engine was overhauled and revised by a specialised firm in Belgium
All invoices on file.

A wonderful opportunity to own a rare early example of this important Vintage-era British sports car.

The car can be viewed in Arendonk, Belgium.This Classic Car is for sale on Catawiki. To have more information or to place a bid click on the "BID NOW" button.