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1954 Bentley R-type Sports Saloon with sliding sun roof £24, 750
Employed as an everyday car of late due to house sale and purchase. Less space available at new house, hence sale
4-speed automatic
Just 6382 miles in the last 12 years. In current family ownership since 2008, and well cared for by a knowledgeable expert used to professionally looking after 300 cars
103, 000 recorded miles believed genuine in 66 years
5 new radial 16" tyres just fitted which just transform these lovely Bentleys into a nice handling 1950s car capable of keeping up with modern traffic with comfortable suspension and excellent road manners, with very little roll for a 4 1/ 2 litre luxury car
Fitted Child seat belts to rear
Invoices include a £1308 ‘service as necessary’ at 98, 098 miles and an £835 brake servo service – both by long-established Rolls-Royce & Bentley specialists Sargents of Goudhurst at Goudhurst Service Station in Kent at 99, 466 miles, just 3916 miles ago.
Dynamo completely rebuilt (March 2020) at a cost of £300
Removable division by Harold Radford included – at present removed. Believed 5 cars were supplied to include this accessory
Originally Midnight Blue, then Dark Grey and now finished in Moss Green over Pewter Silver with double red coach lines and contrasting red leather upholstery.
Purchased in September 2008 with a registered 97, 000 miles by the present owner's late father.
2323 R-type Bentleys were made from 1952 until 1955, the larger 4566cc engined new model over the outgoing MkVI having a larger boot, with the later cars such as this 1954 example coming with the now standard Rolls-Royce / General Motors Hydramatic 4-speed automatic transmission, replacing the MkVI Bentley, and supplied as standard on the subsequent Bentley S1 model of 1955/ 9
Effectively the first Bentley to break the 100mph barrier at 102. 3 mph, along with the Continental R’s top speed of 116. 5 mph - also introduced in 1952 – the twin-SU R-type had a higher compression ratio to the previous MkVI, both sharing the same 10’ wheelbase, the overall length of the R-type 7 ½” longer at 16’ 7 ½” and the final drive being slightly higher for relaxed cruising at 3. 47:1 to the MkVI’s 3. 73:1 final drive.
Included in the sale is the original buff log book. Of the 4 first owners, three addresses still exist on Google. The first registered owner on 20th March 1954 was a Mrs Lucy Lyons of Alwoodley, Leeds, followed by another lady owner three years later in 1957 - a Mrs Diana Hope Ross Spicer of Colemore House, Alton, Hants, now a national garden open to the public. In 1960 this car transferred to a Percy Trower of Guildford. Next owner was a Major Cyril Herbert Nathan, listed at a large estate at Prestwick House, Chiddingfold, Surrey - interestingly listed today a historic motor car storage facility. More recent owners include a Bruce Percival Warburton of Lifton, Devon in 1973 and subsequently a David John Lawson of Chobham in 1989.
Original registration SUB 2 in 1954, this car was re-registered at the first change of ownership in 1957 to TYV 806
Today the odometer reads 03382 miles, having only recently turned over from 99, 999 miles to total 102382.
A pile of old MOTs in sequential order relate to 67, 163 miles recorded at the MOT dated 26th April 1969.
A Motorola push-button 3-channel radio is fitted, together with the usual folding centrally mounted roof aerial operated from just above the rear view mirror.
General condition is commensurate with the asking price, that is to say the following items could be attended to if the new owner desires, but not urgent at this stage. The original leather upholstery is split in two places, but the original patina of this car is not unduly harmed by this. The aluminium boot lid could would benefit from a repaint where bubbling. Lastly there are two minor cracks seen to the paintwork.
Doors shut with a proper clunk and the car performs well, the current owner stating that he would be prepared to drive it anywhere.
All walnut veneer woodwork is also in good condition.
Five new 16” radial tyres have just been fitted
Chassis B148UM
Engine B199U
4566cc
Registered 20th January 1954
