Fastback Coupe
Coachwork: Mulliner
Chassis #: BC2LD
Just 207 (some sources say 208) R-Type Continentals were built for the fortunate few who could afford the 'idea of perfection.'The Bentley R-Type Continental, in its day, was the world's most expensive automobile. For instance, it was 35 percent more costly than a Cadillac Special Sedan. Before the outbreak of the war in 1939, Bentley thought about producing a limited-production performance model for the new high-speed roads that were being constructed in Europe. A prototype achieved a near 100 mph average speed in testing on the German Autobahn, but WWII halted production plans. Revived in 1951, Bentley Motors worked closely with coachbuilder Mulliner and developed a lightweight performance Mark VI Bentley by using aluminum panels and reducing the 4078 pound weight to 3739 on the standard sedan.What really made the Bentley Continental so distinctive was the fastback two-door bodywork, whose excellent aerodynamics gave the car excellent high-speed performance. The pre-war prototype had raced at LeMans in 1949 and 1950 with some success.
The six-cylinder, water-cooled engine with a displacement of 5.57 liters, produced 160 horsepower, coupled to a four-speed transmission, and had a top speed of 120 mph. The pressed channel-steel chassis carried an independent front suspension with coil springs and wishbones, a rear suspension with a semi-elliptic leaf spring, and four-wheel drum brakes.
Fastback Coupe
Coachwork: Mulliner
Chassis #: BC2LD
This Bentley R-Type Continental was the second chassis to be built with the more powerful 4.9-liter engine. She is one of only seven left-hand-drive cars finished with this configuration and is known as a 'chairs and flares' car, with desirable lightweight bucket seats and rear wheel spats. She was first sold through the New York-based Bentley and Rolls-Royce agent J.S. Inskip to Mary Thurston Horn of Fifth Avenue, who owned her until 1957 when the Continental passed to aeronautical engineer Arthur M. Young. After two further owners, the car was restored by Vantage Motorworks of Miami and made its debut at the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours. Since then the car has been repainted in its original Caribbean blue.
1954 Bentley R Type
Bentley
2016 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $1,200,000-USD $1,400,000
Sale Price :
USD $1,815,000
1954 Bentley R Type Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Bentley R Type
(Data based on Model Year 1954 sales)
1954 BENTLEY R-TYPE CONTINENTAL FASTBACK Chassis#: BC38LC Sold for USD$2,975,000 2022 Gooding & Company : Amelia Island Auction | ![]() ![]() |
1954 Bentley R-Type Saloon Chassis#: B104LWH Sold for USD$35,840 2021 Bonhams : Greenwich Concours dElegance Online Auction | |
1954 Bentley R-Type Saloon by James Young Chassis#: B26WH Sold for USD$63,800 2021 RM Sothebys : Hershey | ![]() ![]() |
1954 BENTLEY R-TYPE 4½-LITRE SALOON Chassis#: B292YD Sold for USD$15,118 2021 Bonhams : Bonhams MPH May Auction | |
1954 Bentley R-Type Saloon Chassis#: B54YD Sold for USD$34,100 2021 RM Sothebys : Open Roads February | |
1954 Bentley R-Type Saloon by Freestone & Webb Chassis#: B248YD Sold for USD$33,000 2020 RM Sothebys : Auburn Fall Auction | |
1954 Bentley R Type Sold for USD$13,500 2020 GAA : July 2020 | |
1954 BENTLEY R-TYPE STANDARD SALOON Chassis#: B39ZX Sold for USD$88,000 2018 Barrett-Jackson : Las Vegas | |
1954 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback Sports Saloon by Franay Sold for USD$1,083,000 2017 RM Sotheby's : Icons | |
1954 Bentley R-Type Saloon (Standard steel) Chassis#: B64WH Sold for USD$20,785 2017 Historics at Brooklands-Motor Museum | |
1954 Bentley R-Type 4½-Litre Saloon Chassis#: B133WG Sold for USD$21,523 2017 Bonhams : Goodwood Members Meeting | |
1954 Bentley R Type Chassis#: B70YD Sold for USD$37,671 2016 Barons : Annual Christmas Classic - Sandown Park | |
1954 Bentley R-Type Abbott FHC Sold for USD$50,333 2016 RM Sothebys : Duemila Ruote | |
1954 Bentley R-Type 4½-Litre Saloon Chassis#: B137YA Sold for USD$25,914 2016 Bonhams : Goodwood Revival | |
1954 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback Sports Saloon by H.J. Mulliner Chassis#: BC66LC Sold for USD$1,870,000 2016 RM Sotheby's : Monterey | ![]() ![]() |
1954 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback Sports Saloon by H.J. Mulliner Chassis#: BC2LD Sold for USD$1,815,000 2016 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island | ![]() ![]() |
1954 Bentley R Type Sold for USD$23,100 2015 Morphy Auctions : Premier Automobile Sale | |
1954 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback Chassis#: BC41D Sold for USD$1,012,000 2014 Silverstone : Salon Prive | |
1954 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback Sports Saloon by Franay Chassis#: BC51LC Sold for USD$963,235 2014 RM Auctions : Monaco | ![]() ![]() |
1954 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback Chassis#: BC5LD Sold for USD$1,980,000 2013 Gooding and Company - Pebble Beach |
Bentley R Types That Failed To Sell At Auction
1954 Bentley R Type's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1954 Bentley R-Type Continental Sports Saloon | BC70C | 2019 Bonhams : The Goodwood Festival of Speed Sale | $500,000 | $700,000 | |
1954 Bentley R Type Standard Steel Saloon | B141ZX | 2018 Anglia Car Auctions : June 2018 | $25,000 | $30,000 | |
1954 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback | BC70C | 2016 Barons Connoisseurs Classic Car Collection | |||
1954 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback Sports Saloon by H.J. Mulliner | BC14D | 2016 RM Sotheby's : Monaco | $750,000 | $950,000 | |
1954 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback | BC58D | 2015 Silverstone Auction Salon Prive Sale | |||
1954 Bentley R Type Continental Fastback | £): 800,000 | 2014 Silverstone Auction NEC Classic Motor Show 2014 | $800,000 | $900,000 | |
1954 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback Sports Saloon | BC51LC | 2014 Bonhams The Scottsdale Auction | $1,500,000 | $1,750,000 | |
1954 Bentley R-Type Saloon | B155YA | 2012 H & H Auctions Rockingham Castle | |||
1954 Bentley R-Type 4½-Litre Sports Saloon | B155YA | 2012 Bonhams Collectors' Motor cars and Automobilia | $23,000 | $26,000 | |
1954 Bentley R-Type 4½-Litre Sports Saloon | B105WG | 2011 Bonhams RollsRoyce, Bentley and Select PreWar Motor Cars and Automobilia | $16,000 | $20,000 | |
1954 BENTLEY R TYPE | B243LYA | 2011 McCormicks Auction #50 Palm Springs CA | $28,000 | ||
1954 BENTLEY R TYPE | B243LYA | 2010 McCormick's Auction #49 Palm Springs, CA | $39,000 | ||
1954 Bentley R-Type Countryman | B190UM | 2010 Bonhams RollsRoyce, Bentley Motor Cars and Automobilia | $40,000 | $50,000 | |
1954 Bentley R Type Saloon | 2009 Leake Auctions Houston Annual Leake Auto Auction Reliant Center | $15,000 | |||
1954 Bentley R-Type Saloon | B187WG | 2006 Bonhams A Sale of RollsRoyce, Bentley and Select PreWar Motor Cars and Automobilia | $18,000 | $22,000 | |
1954 Bentley R-Type Saloon | B393SP | 2005 Bonhams Important Collectors' Motor Cars | $55,000 | $65,000 | |
1954 Bentley R-Type Lightweight Coupe | B77ZX | 2004 Vintage Motor Cars at Amelia Island | $60,000 | $70,000 | $90,000 |
1954 Bentley R-Type Coupe | B77ZX | 2003 Bonhams RollsRoyce & Bentley Motor Cars & Related Automobilia | $30,000 | $40,000 |
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1954 Bentley R Type
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