This 1947 Bentley Mark VI Estate Van is one that bridges pre- and post-war manufacturing.

It still boasts of the grand styling exhibited by the best of the teens, 1920s and 1930s.

That's because post-war cars were the beginning of the transition to a more modern style of manufacturing.

"The Bentley Mark VI 4-door steel sports saloon was the first post-war luxury car from Bentley," stated the owners' summary at the 2012 Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance near San Francisco.

Production of these beauties began in 1946 and ended in 1952.

"A total of 5,208 were produced," the Bay Area owners noted. "This model is notable because it is both the first car from Rolls-Royce with all-steel coachwork and the first complete car assembled and finished at their factory; although, those who wished, the chassis continued to be supplied to independent coachbuilders.

"This example was converted to an 'estate van' for use as a hotel car in Scotland. The coachbuilder is unknown but it is attributed to Abbott."

At the time this photo was taken, the owners said that they acquired the Bentley in 1985 and restored it.

They said it received the Chief Judge's Special Award at the 1991 PROC National Meet.

For trivia, the Scotland Hotel where it once reliably served guests in luxury was the site of the BBC sitcom titled Fawlty Towers.