1954 Bentley R Type

• Stunning Masons Black with Red Connolly Hide
• Desirable Manual Gearbox example
• Lightweight bucket seats
• Rear Spats
• Presented in its original factory colour combination
• Low ownership
• No expense spared restoration carried out in recent times
• Well documented history
• The must have model in every serious Bentley collection

Chassis number ‘BC20C’ was supplied by Charles Atwood & Son Ltd to Mr B P Jenks. Completed on 18th December 1953, the car was delivered finished in Masons Black with Burgundy hide interior trim, lightweight seats, and the manual gearbox. Its next three private owners, in order, were Sir Henry Spurrier (1956); S R H Clarke (1962); and Flight Lieutenant T N Allen (1971). The Bentley’s original registration number was ‘EUK 378’ and it has also been registered ‘KT 2038’ and now ‘999 BHR’.

This Continental has one of the most comprehensive history files we have ever seen, effectively commencing in 1971 when the car was purchased by Flt Lt Allen, who would look after it with no expense spared for the next 40-plus years. It appears that every single invoice has been kept, and the file also contains correspondence with the Rolls-Royce factory and a number of technical drawings. In the 1970s the Continental was re-sprayed white and re-trimmed in light grey, while in 1997 Classic Restorations of Alyth carried out a complete coachwork restoration and bare-metal repaint in Jaguar Metallichrome Blue, retaining the grey trim.

Following the Continental’s departure from Mr Allen’s ownership, the most recent refurbishment was carried out in 2014/2015. This comprehensive restoration included a complete mechanical overhaul; bare-metal repaint in the original colour; complete interior re-trim using correct Connolly hides in original Burgundy; new Wilton carpeting throughout; new West of England Cloth headlining; and a complete refurbishment of all wood veneers. Presented in beautiful condition, ‘BC20C’ represents a rare opportunity to acquire a fine example of the most famous post-war Bentley, possessing impeccable provenance.

With its outstanding aerodynamic coachwork, developed by Rolls-Royce stylist John Blatchley, in collaboration with coachbuilder H J Mulliner, the R-Type Continental fastback remains the pinnacle of Bentley’s achievements in the post-war era.

R Type Continental Facts:

• Inspired by the pre-war streamlined Embiricos and Corniche one-off coachbuilt Bentleys

• Unofficial project by engineer Ivan Evernden to re-establish Bentley as a maker of high performance cars

• Design created by chief stylist John Blatchley and tested in a wind tunnel

• Built using aluminium to a target weight of 1750kg: no tyre existed in 1950 which could sustain a heavier weight at 115mph+

• Prototype OLG 490 was created by coachbuilders H.J. Mulliner: became known as ‘Olga’

• At Montlhèry in September 1951 ‘Olga’ averaged 118.75 mph over five laps, with a best lap speed just under 120mph

• Originally offered with a tuned, 4,566cc, six-cylinder in-line engine producing 153bhp. Later versions 4,887cc

• To save weight, a radio was not fitted as standard

• Total of 208 produced between 1952 and 1955 – 193 were bodied by H.J. Mulliner

• Cost in 1952 was £6,928 including UK purchase tax: almost fifteen times the UK average annual income

• Later production cars featured a lower roofline, a one-piece windscreen and revised wing line