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1953 Bentley R-Type Navigation
The Type R Continental Bentley was introduced as the 'Continental Sports Saloon' in 1952. Bentley worked closely with H.J. Mulliner to develop a lightweight performance version of the postwar Mark VI Bentley. By using aluminum panels, the weight was cut form 4,078 pounds for the standard sedan to 3,739 pounds. It was the fastest 4-psasenger vehicle in the world at introduction, capable of 120 miles per hour.
This model has the upgraded 4.9 liter, water-cooled, F-Head (overhead inlet-side exhaust), 6-cylinder engine, with a center shift 4-speed manual gearbox. It is believed that fewer than 10 units were built to these specifications.
It was re-built/rebodied by the Bentley factory and H.J. Mulliner in 1954 and returned to the first owners with a fresh warranty.
This model has the upgraded 4.9 liter, water-cooled, F-Head (overhead inlet-side exhaust), 6-cylinder engine, with a center shift 4-speed manual gearbox. It is believed that fewer than 10 units were built to these specifications.
It was re-built/rebodied by the Bentley factory and H.J. Mulliner in 1954 and returned to the first owners with a fresh warranty.
This Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback Sports Saloon by H.J. Mulliner is one of two of the second-series 'B' models supplied with both left-hand drive and the center-shift manual transmission. It was fitted from new with lightweight aluminum frame bucket seats and Wilmot Breedon bumpers, as well as the rear fender 'spats' common to all R-Type Continentals through the late 'C' series. It was installed from the factory with the 4.6-liter engine as the 4.9-liter unit did not yet exist - it was introduced for the final 'D' and 'E' cars later, in 1954.
The car's original owner was J. Gordon Mack, of the Pennsylvania family that owned the G.C. Murphy variety store chain. Mr. Mach took delivery of the Bentley on July 16th of 1953 via New York distributor J.S. Inskip. A short time later (less than a year), the car was involved in a serious accident and was returned to the factory where it was totally remanufactured to the most current specification. The chassis was rebuilt to the latest, and lighter, welded-frame construction, and fitted with a new 4.9-litre engine. It was then sent to Mulliner for new coachwork to the original design, no. 5706. Some of the original trim hardware was reused from the first iteration. In this guise, the car was considered 'new' by the factory, and another three-year guarantee was issued.
In the summer of 1954, the car returned back to the United States, but Mr. Mack passed away soon thereafter. On October 3rd of 1956, Inskip sold the car for the estate to the second owner, Robert Publicker. On January 26th of 1961, the car was again sold by Inskip, this time to Edmond R. du Pont of Delaware. On July 18th of 1966, it was acquired by Anthony Thompson, who in January 1980 passed it to Alan W. Rothschild. The car was restored in 1988 to its present Masons Black livery with Tan leather interior. Between 1989 and 1992, the car earned RROC Senior awards, and in 1990 it earned an AACA National Senior First Prize for Mr. Rothschild.
In 1997, the car was sent to Vantage Motorworks and received an air conditioning system that duplicates that fitted to the 1953 New York show car, the only R-Type Continental known to have been delivered air-conditioned from the factory.
In its current ownership, the Bentley was given a correct-style aluminum radiator from the UK, and an upgrade to the big-valve, six-port cylinder head, as used on the Bentley S1, along with larger SU carburetors, a special distributor, and a larger-diameter tailpipe. Known as the 'OPWAS modification,' this was originally available through the factory as a retrofit to earlier Continentals in 1955.
The current caretaker has driven the car in the 2012 Copperstate 1000 where it earned the Distance Award. It received the Best Rolls-Royce or Bentley trophy from the Greystone Mansion Concours in 2012, Best in Class at the Amelia Island Concours in 2013, Best in Class during the Bentley feature year at Mar-a-Lago Classic Sports Sunday in 2014, and Most Elegant Bentley at the Boca Raton Concours d'Elegance in 2019 (the Bentley Motors centenary year).
In 2019, the car returned to Vantage Motorworks for mechanical service and cosmetic freshening, including the fitment of new Wilton carpets.By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2021
The car's original owner was J. Gordon Mack, of the Pennsylvania family that owned the G.C. Murphy variety store chain. Mr. Mach took delivery of the Bentley on July 16th of 1953 via New York distributor J.S. Inskip. A short time later (less than a year), the car was involved in a serious accident and was returned to the factory where it was totally remanufactured to the most current specification. The chassis was rebuilt to the latest, and lighter, welded-frame construction, and fitted with a new 4.9-litre engine. It was then sent to Mulliner for new coachwork to the original design, no. 5706. Some of the original trim hardware was reused from the first iteration. In this guise, the car was considered 'new' by the factory, and another three-year guarantee was issued.
In the summer of 1954, the car returned back to the United States, but Mr. Mack passed away soon thereafter. On October 3rd of 1956, Inskip sold the car for the estate to the second owner, Robert Publicker. On January 26th of 1961, the car was again sold by Inskip, this time to Edmond R. du Pont of Delaware. On July 18th of 1966, it was acquired by Anthony Thompson, who in January 1980 passed it to Alan W. Rothschild. The car was restored in 1988 to its present Masons Black livery with Tan leather interior. Between 1989 and 1992, the car earned RROC Senior awards, and in 1990 it earned an AACA National Senior First Prize for Mr. Rothschild.
In 1997, the car was sent to Vantage Motorworks and received an air conditioning system that duplicates that fitted to the 1953 New York show car, the only R-Type Continental known to have been delivered air-conditioned from the factory.
In its current ownership, the Bentley was given a correct-style aluminum radiator from the UK, and an upgrade to the big-valve, six-port cylinder head, as used on the Bentley S1, along with larger SU carburetors, a special distributor, and a larger-diameter tailpipe. Known as the 'OPWAS modification,' this was originally available through the factory as a retrofit to earlier Continentals in 1955.
The current caretaker has driven the car in the 2012 Copperstate 1000 where it earned the Distance Award. It received the Best Rolls-Royce or Bentley trophy from the Greystone Mansion Concours in 2012, Best in Class at the Amelia Island Concours in 2013, Best in Class during the Bentley feature year at Mar-a-Lago Classic Sports Sunday in 2014, and Most Elegant Bentley at the Boca Raton Concours d'Elegance in 2019 (the Bentley Motors centenary year).
In 2019, the car returned to Vantage Motorworks for mechanical service and cosmetic freshening, including the fitment of new Wilton carpets.By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2021
2024 RM Sothebys : Monterey
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $1,000,000-USD $1,400,000
Sale Price :
USD $747,500
2021 RM Sothebys : Monterey
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $1,300,000-USD $1,600,000
Sale Price :
USD $1,435,000
1953 Bentley R-Type Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Bentley R-Type
(Data based on Model Year 1953 sales)
1953 Bentley R-Type Drophead Coupé by H.J. Mulliner Chassis#: B47SP Sold for USD$126,670 2024 RM Sothebys : London | |
1953 Bentley R Type Four-Door Sedan Chassis#: B25RS Sold for USD$14,280 2024 Worldwide Auctioneers : Auburn Auction | |
1953 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback Sports Saloon by H.J. Mulliner Chassis#: BC1LB Sold for USD$747,500 2024 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1953 BENTLEY R-TYPE CONTINENTAL FASTBACK Chassis#: BC20A Sold for USD$553,260 2022 Gooding & Company : London Auction | |
1953 Bentley R-Type Sold for USD$46,200 2022 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1953 Bentley R-Type Empress Saloon Chassis#: B25RS Sold for USD$44,265 2021 Worldwide Auctioneers : The 14th Annual Auburn Auction | |
1953 Bentley R-Type Saloon Chassis#: B378TN Sold for USD$29,150 2021 RM Auctions : Auburn Fall | |
1953 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback Sports Saloon by H.J. Mulliner Chassis#: BC1LB Sold for USD$1,435,000 2021 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1953 BENTLEY R-TYPE SALOON Chassis#: B11SP Sold for USD$81,003 2021 RM Sothebys : A Passion for Elegance | |
1953 Bentley R-Type Empress by Hooper Chassis#: B320TN Sold for USD$49,500 2020 RM Sothebys : Auburn Fall Auction | |
1953 Bentley R-Type Saloon (Standard Steel ) Chassis#: B501SP Sold for USD$31,445 2019 Historics at Brooklands - Motor Museum | |
1953 Bentley R-Type Saloon Sold for USD$12,375 2019 RM Auctions : Auburn Fall | |
1953 Bentley R-Type Saloon Chassis#: B66TN Sold for USD$12,375 2019 Auburn Spring : RM Auctions | |
1953 Bentley R-Type 4½-Litre Drophead Coupé Chassis#: B73RS Sold for USD$115,744 2019 Bonhams : Goodwood Members Meeting | |
1953 Bentley R-Type Saloon Chassis#: B402TN Sold for USD$46,750 2019 RM Sothebys : Fort Lauderdale | |
1953 Bentley R-Type Sold for USD$44,000 2019 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1953 Bentley R Type Sold for USD$11,550 2018 Mecum : Kansas City | |
1953 BENTLEY R TYPE RHD Sold for USD$39,900 2018 McCormick's - # 65 | |
1953 BENTLEY R-TYPE SEDAN Chassis#: B417SP Sold for USD$25,850 2018 Barrett-Jackson : Northeast | |
1953 Bentley R-Type Saloon Chassis#: B95UL Sold for USD$23,076 2017 Bonhams : London Olympia |
Bentley R-Types That Failed To Sell At Auction
1953 Bentley R-Type's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1953 BENTLEY R-TYPE SALOON | B484SR | 2021 Bonhams : Bonhams MPH May Auction | $28,000 | $30,000 | |
1953 Bentley Continental 4.9-litre Sports Saloon | BC22A | 2020 Bonhams : The Bond Street Sale | $550,000 | $700,000 | |
1953 Bentley R-Type Continental Sports Saloon | BC27C | 2020 Bonhams : Goodwood Speedweek | $800,000 | $1,000,000 | |
1953 Bentley R-Type Continental Sports Saloon by H.J. Mulliner | BC15B | 2020 RM Sothebys : Paris | $700,000 | $800,000 | |
1953 Bentley R-Type | 2020 Mecum Auctions : Kissimmee | $35,000 | $60,000 | $80,000 | |
1953 Bentley R-Type Continental Sports Saloon | BC20C | 2019 Bonhams : The Bond Street Sale | $900,000 | $1,100,000 | |
1953 Bentley R-Type Saloon | B572TN | 2019 H & H Classics Imperial War Museum, Duxford | $29,000 | $33,000 | |
1953 Bentley R-Type 4½-Litre Coupé | B135SP | 2019 Bonhams : The Goodwood Festival of Speed Sale | $100,000 | $150,000 | |
1953 BENTLEY R TYPE | 488TN | 2019 The Roy Savage Collection of Classic Cars | $65,000 | $75,000 | |
1953 Bentley R-Type SR5 Special Roadster | B61UL | 2018 Bonhams : Goodwood Members Meeting | $70,000 | $90,000 | |
1953 Bentley R-Type Continental Sports Saloon by H.J. Mulliner | BC20A | 2017 RM Sothebys : Villa Erba | $1,000,000 | $1,300,000 | |
1953 Bentley R-Type | B135TO | 2017 Barons : Classic Winter Warmer | |||
1953 Bentley R Type Continental Fastback | BC20A | 2016 Barons Connoisseurs Classic Car Collection | |||
1953 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback | BC10LB | 2015 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach Concours | $1,400,000 | $1,800,000 | |
1953 Bentley R-Type Standard Steel Saloon | B245UL | 2015 Historics at Brookland | $15,000 | $20,000 | |
1953 Bentley R-Type | B84T | 2012 Russo and Steele Scottsdale | |||
1953 Bentley R Sedan | 2011 Branson Collector Car Auction Oct 22, 2011 | $33,000 | |||
1953 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback by Mulliner | BC3C | 2011 Coys Auction Blenheim Palace | $290,000 | $330,000 | |
1953 Bentley R-Type Convertible Coachwork by Park Ward | B38CO5R | 2011 Coys Auction Blenheim Palace | $55,000 | $70,000 |
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1953 Porsche 356 'Pre-A' 1500 Super Knickscheibe Cabriolet Chassis#:60205 Sold for $188,641 2024 Bonhams : The Zoute Sale | |
1965 Porsche 356C Coupe Chassis#:219141 Sold for $187,000 2024 Mecum : Indy Fall Special | |
1955 Porsche 356 Pre-A 1500 Continental Cabriolet Chassis#:60771 Sold for $187,600 2024 Bonhams : The Quail Auction | |
1963 Porsche 356B Cabriolet Chassis#:158540 Sold for $187,000 2024 Mecum : Monterey | |
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1953 Bentley R-Type
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