1955 Bentley R-Type Continental
The R-Type was the epitome of British luxury in the 1950s and the first car to carry the Continental nameplate. Despite having a uniform style, each car was unique in detail. Unlike almost every car of the period, the Continental had an all-aluminum body.
The R-Type was the second series of post-war Bentley automobile, replacing the Mark VI. The front of the saloon model was identical to the Mark VI, but many had custom coachwork. The Continental model was produced specially for continental Europe, with many coachbuilt by H.J. Mulliner. This would be the first appearance of the famed Bentley Continental name.
All R Type models used an iron-block/aluminum-head straight-6 engine fed by twin SU carburettors. The basic engine displaced 4.6 L (4566 cc/278 in³) with a 92.08 mm (3.6 in) bore and 114.3 mm (4.5 in) stroke. The Continental had a larger bore of 94.62 mm (3.7 in) for a total displacement of 4.9 L (4887 cc/298 in³).
A 4-speed manual transmission was standard with a 4-speed automatic optional.
1955 Bentley R-Type Continental Gallery
See full 1955 Bentley R-Type Continental Gallery here
In Detail
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Auction Sales History
Tudor Grey 1953 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback Sports Saloon by H.J. Mulliner BC25A – sold for $1,210,000 An early A-series car, originally deliverd to Paris dealership Franco-Brittanic Autos for Aristotle Onassis. Originally deliverd with both rear fender skirts and lightweight bucket seats. Restored in 1989 by the renowned Miami, Florida, firm of Vantage Motorworks in Tudor Grey with Maroon leather interior.
Auction Source: RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2015
1955 Bentley R-Type Continental Sports Saloon by H.J. Mulliner BC67LD – sold for $1,127,500 The ultimate R-Type Continental. Factory left-hand drive, lightweight seats, and a 4.9-liter engine. Matching-numbers engine and original upholstery. Still the ideal gentleman’s driving machine. 27,816 kilometers on its odometer. original maroon leather interior.
Auction Source: Paul & Chris Andrews Collection by RM Sotheby’s
1953 Bentley R-Type Continental H.J. Mulliner Sports Saloon BC16LA – sold for $1,525,000 A factory left-hand-drive example with “seats and spats”. Important special features, including a center-mounted gearshift. Formerly owned by Glenn Mounger and James Patterson. Exquisitely restored, with 68,000 actual miles. One of the finest in existence.
Auction Source: Arizona 2015 by RM Auctions
1953 Bentley R-Type Continental H.J. Mulliner Sports Saloon BC20A – sold for $1,210,000 The 1953 Geneva Salon show car. Factory “seats and spats,” with manual gearbox. Numerous bespoke special-order items. Original engine and factory tool set. Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club documentation.
Auction Source: 2014 Monterey by RM Auctions
1954 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback Sports Saloon by Franay BC51LC – sold for €700,000 One of three Franay-bodied R-Type Continentals in this design. Only example delivered in left-hand drive and equipped with a desirable central manual gearshift. A very well-known car; owned by enthusiasts since new. Extensively documented recent mechanical sorting. Rolls-Royce Foundation and RREC Hunt House documentation. The grandest of British tourers, with Gallic flair.
Auction Source: 2014 Monaco by RM Auctions
1953 Bentley R-Type Continental H.J. Mulliner Sports Saloon BC24B – sold for €525,083
The example offered here – right-hand drive chassis number ‘BC24B’ – was retailed new by Edwards & Co Ltd of Bournemouth and first owned by one G E Lambert. Accompanying build history shows that the car was equipped with the manual transmission and originally finished in black with red leather interior trim, while special features included veneered dark walnut woodwork, sliding front seats with tipping/adjustable backs, and ashtrays front and rear. The car’s original UK registration was ‘NPU 10’.
Auction Source: 2013 Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais
1953 Bentley Continental R-Type H.J. Mulliner Fastback Sports Saloon BC16LA – sold for $1,622,500 First R-Type Continental fitted with center gear change; one of 24 built in 1953. One of 193 fastbacks built from 1952–1955; one of 43 delivered with left-hand drive. Only 68,000 miles from new; finished in period correct black with tan leather. World’s fastest production four-seater in 1953; 120 mph top speed. “Spats and Seats”.
Auction Source: Monterey 2012 by RM Auctions
1954 Bentley R-Type Continental H.J. Mulliner Sports Saloon BC64C – sold for €387,000
A right-hand drive, manual transmission model, ‘BC64C’ was built to special order for first owner P McDonald, who specified the ‘sporting’ package that included lightweight bucket seats and a right-hand gearchange. The Bentley was subsequently owned by the Kent and England cricketer Godfrey Evans, whose Wisden entry describes him as ‘arguably the best wicket keeper the game has ever seen.’ In April 1976 the Continental passed into the ownership of Ted Dexter, the Sussex and England cricketer who first captained the England side in 1961/62 on their tour of India and Pakistan. Known as ‘Lord Ted’, he last captained England in 1964 and after retiring from 1st class cricket served as Chairman of the England Cricket Selectors, a post he held from 1989 to 1993.
‘BC64C’ was acquired by the current owner via Frank, Dale & Stepsons on 14th June 1985, at which time the recorded mileage total stood at 50,218. Since then it has spent most it the time in southern Spain. The present recorded mileage is 55,337. The car is finished in Shell Grey with blue hide interior and is offered with current MoT.
Auction Source: 2011 Goodwood Revival Sale by Bonhams
1954 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback BC62LC – sold for $753,500 Bought new by Laurence Rockefeller as a gift to his wife Mary French Rockefeller. The fastest production car of its time. One of 193 Fastback Continentals; one of only 43 delivered with left-hand drive. Automatic transmission and air conditioning. Always fastidiously maintained, without regard to expense.
Auction Source: 2011 Monterey Auction by RM
1955 Bentley R-Type Continental H.J. Mulliner Fastback BC7E – sold for €409,292 The penultimate Mulliner fastback built. Bentley’s flagship model and the world’s fastest sports saloon of the period. Known history from new. Beautifully finished in original colours of Midnight Blue with red trim.
Auction Source: 2011 Salon Privé Auction by RM
1955 Bentley R-Type Continental Franay Coupé BC.9.LE. – did not sell for €475,000 The last R-Type Continental built. Ex-Paris Salon l’Automobile 1955. One of only 208 R-Type Continentals and just five Franay-bodied examples. One-off coachwork; the last designed by Marius Franay. Rare left-hand drive car and one of only nine with automatic gearbox. Restored to original specification, shown at Villa d’Este in 2003. The fastest production four-seater in the world.
Auction Source: RM 2011 Villa d’Este Auction
1955 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback BC16LD – sold for $770,000 The Ultimate Specification R-Type Fastback. Desirable 4.9-Litre Equipped with Bucket Seats and Centre-Change Gearshift. One of Only 43 Left-Hand Drive Examples. Accompanied by the Rare Touring Spares Kit. Beautifully Preserved, Highly Original Condition. Offered with an Exceptional File of Documentation.
Auction Source: 2011 Amelia Island Auction by Gooding & Company
1953 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback – sold for €395,780
Retaining its original interior trim, the car shows only the slightest signs of use over the last 54 years. Its recorded mileage of about 135,000 is thought to be correct, an average of under 2,500 miles per annum. Entrusted to respect Bentley specialists Messrs. Hunt and Keale, who maintain the rest of the vendor’s fine collection, BC22B was recently stripped to bare metal and repainted in the correct Masons Black scheme while the interior wood trim was removed and expertly polished. The seat squabs were also re-trimmed using new old stock hides in the correct ‘light tobacco’ colour. The only modification undertaken is the logical repositioning of the outside mirrors from the front wings to the A-pillars.
In 2007, BC22B’s mechanicals were comprehensively overhauled and it has traveled only several hundred kilometres since the work was completed. According to the vendor, it drives “incredibly well” and feels tight and responsive, as confirmed by a recent road test. The total mileage is believed to be 135,000 miles as supported by an extensive service history dating back over 30 years. The car is therefore presented in ‘ready to enjoy’ condition, freshly MOT’d and requiring no further expenditure of time or money before taking to the highways of Continental Europe.
Auction Source: 2008 RM Automobiles of London
1954 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback – sold for $550,000
The original left-drive example offered here, BC66LC, is one of a mere 77 Series C cars, and is one of only three examples originally constructed with left-hand drive and an automatic gearbox. Listed in The Continental Register, its provenance is very well documented. It was first dispatched to J.S. Inskip, Inc. in the United States in May 1954, and was immediately sold to Mr. John Dimick. Mr. Dimick retained the car until January 1964, when it was sold to Mr. B.R. Franko-Filipasic. In turn, Mr. Franko-Filipasic sold the car to Mr. Di Curio in 1980. In the early 1990s, Mr. Di Curio started a lengthy and exhaustive restoration that took some eight years to complete. In 2004, BC66LC was sold to a West Hollywood car dealer who quickly sold it to a noted actor, and upon his purchase, a complete engine rebuild and mechanical sorting was commissioned.
Today, the car is reported to be “on the button”, and although the cosmetics are nearly ten years old, they remain excellent in overall presentation. A chrome strip along the beltline, a pair of fender-mounted chrome side view mirrors, and a set of rear fender skirts complement the rich burgundy finish. Appropriately, this stately yet sporting automobile features a set of burgundy painted steel wheels with chrome plated center caps, trim rings, and a set of period correct wide whitewall tires. Inside, the luxurious yet functional passenger cabin is trimmed in tan leather upholstery with burgundy piping, and contains an impressive wooden dash with beautifully inlaid edges and complete instrumentation. Meanwhile, the beautifully detailed trunk is trimmed in tan carpeting, and the expansive engine bay is carefully detailed as well.
Auction Source: 2008 Monterey Preview
