Intended for announcement at the Earl's Court Motor Show set down for late October 1939[1] it had much in common with its predecessor.

War was declared on 3 September 1939 and a few days later Bentley announced it had ceased production of civilian items.

[citation needed] The Mark V was sold only as a bare chassis to be fitted with a body from an owner's own choice of coachbuilder.

It was a new design with very deep side rails to reduce flexing and to cope with the changed loads resulting from a totally redesigned independent front suspension in place of the beam axle.

Low rate open coil springs sat within pairs of triangulated wishbones holding the front wheels at their outer point.

[1] A lightweight and aerodynamic Corniche model was planned, but the outbreak of World War II halted development work and the concept finally emerged more than a decade later as the Bentley Continental in 1952.

Weight was critical, tyre designs of the day could not safely support bigger cars at the continuous high speeds then becoming achievable on the Continent's new motorways.