1954 Bentley R Type Coupe / BC51LC Chassis Information

Sold for $963,235 (€700,000) at 2014 RM Auctions : Monaco.
A very special variant of the iconic R-Type Continental Fastback, on one of 24 left-drive central gear change four-speed chassis, was sent to Franco-Brittanic Automobiles December 21, 1953. It was driven from the port to Paris by an FBA chauffeur seated on a crate and sent to Franay of Paris for coachwork, completed and delivered May 20, 1954. Franay built five bodies out of the 208 R-Continental chassis supplied by Rolls-Royce between 1952 and 1955. The other four, not all of which are known to still exist, were more plebian 'notchback' designs similar to production French Fords and the like. Complete difficult to acquire tools and correct handbook accompany the vehicle along with factory records and complete unbroken ownership pedigree.

The car is the only LHD R-Type Continental Franay Fastback in existence! 1 of only 5 bodies that Franay built for the Continental R-Type chassis. Production of the Bentley R-Type started in 1952 and continued through 1955; a great departure from Bentley's traditional chauffeur-driven sedan, the Continental was designed to be driven by the owner-enthusiast. Only 208 cars were built during the three-year period and just 43 had left-hand drive. Profiles of the Continental and the Bentley Mark VI standard sedan are indistinguishable up to the rear edge of the front doors; beyond that point the 'fastback' design incorporates a rear window and a sweeping trunk lid that results in a more spacious luggage compartment. The R-Type was delivered as a rolling chassis for the creation of custom coachwork. This R-Type Continental has a 4,566 cc engine (4.5-liter), a four-speed manual transmission with floor-mounted shifter, and a rear axle geared for high-speed touring; the R-Type can maintain 120-mph for hours without breaking a sweat. Most Continentals were fastbacks built by H. J. Mulliner & Co. in London; Park Ward in London built six, Graber in Switzerland built three, Franay in Paris bodied five cars, and Pinin Farina in Italy created only one. This extremely rare and beautiful example was delivered new to Vandendreissche & Fils May 20th, 1954 in France. Former owners include: D.J. Smith, USA- January 1965 Gene Littler, USA – July 1977 Richard Gorman, USA, 1990 Bill Jacobs, Jr., Joliet, IL. USA, 1990 Blackhawk Collection, Danville, CA. USA, 1990 – current