Original US Delivered, Left Hand Drive example

1955 Bentley R-Type Lightweight Sports Saloon

Coachwork by H.J. Mulliner

4,556cc OHV Inline 6-Cylinder Engine
Single Twin-Choke Carburetor
Approximately 150bhp at 4,500rpm
Automatic Transmission
Independent Front Suspension - Live Rear Axle
4-Wheel Drum Brakes

* One of only thirty-four Lightweight sedans built by Mulliner
* Factory records on file
* A sporting and practical Bentley statement
* Timeless elegance

Previewing in Bedford Hills, New York by appointment. Please contact [email protected] for scheduling.

THE BENTLEY R-TYPE

Launched in mid-1952, the R-Type represented the '2nd Generation' of post-war Bentleys. The latter had first appeared in 1946 in the form of the MkVI, which was produced alongside its Rolls-Royce sibling, the Silver Wraith. Both cars retained the traditional separate chassis but for the first time there was standard coachwork. This new 'standard steel' body - produced by the Pressed Steel Company, of Oxford - was available at first only on the Bentley, the equivalent Rolls-Royce - the Silver Dawn - not appearing until 1949.

The range featured a new design of independent front suspension, hydraulic front brakes and a new 4,257cc, six-cylinder, 'F-head' (inlet-over-exhaust) engine, destined for enlargement to 4,566cc in 1951. Representing a much-needed improvement to the standard bodywork, the R-Type featured an enlarged boot together with associated changes to the rear wings and suspension. The standard R-Type was a lively performer, achieving 106mph in silence and reaching 50mph from standstill in 10 seconds despite a curb weight approaching two tons. Some 2,320 of these handsome cars were built between 1952 and 1955.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

An exquisite piece of H.J. Mulliner coachwork, these lightweight sports saloons are built in limited numbers, most reference works citing 34 in total. Each would have had its own refinements, and in our view is one of the best looking of the series. By definition it is more than likely that the right-hand drive examples outnumbered those built in the left-hand drive configuration as offered here.

B215 LZX is presented with copies of its original factory build sheets on file and these documents confirm the car left the works in left hand drive form 'For Use in America'. As ever the detailed order pages denote specifics to this car to have included automatic gear box, sealed beam headlamps, Pyrene bumpers, fog lamps, 'blinker' indicators (turn signals) and perhaps as a reminder given that it had 'white sided tires', appropriately a 'Made in England' plate to its rear. The order was made by the Hambro Trading Co. for their customer Mrs. Dorothy Rogers, who would receive her car exactly 67 years ago on October 21st, 1954. There is no notice of the color scheme for the car.

According to the Schoelkopf card, its history was then charted as follows: Mrs. Rogers traded the Bentley to New York agents, J.S. Inskip Inc. just before Christmas 1957, on December 17th, who promptly turned the car around and resold it perhaps as a belated gift on Boxing Day that year to Peter VanGerbig. Mr. Van Gerbig also kept the car a couple of years before trading to J.S. Inskip and within a month they had efficiently again found a new home for the car with Grant Simmons. On October 10, 1960, Simmons offered the car for sale through Inskip, it passing to Henry. H. Patton who worked for Transoceanic, AOFC Ltd on Fifth Avenue in New York City, and resided in Skillman, New Jersey. It may well have been his elegant commuter car between the two locations. It is not known at the time of writing how long Mr. Patton would own the car, nor any successive owners until more recent times.

Fast forward to a decade ago and the car was seen in Florida, being shown at a Rolls-Royce Owner's Club meeting in Orlando in 2010. By that time it was owned by noted Rolls-Royce and Bentley aficionado Woody Richey, formerly of Dale Powers Automotive, which would become Proper Motor Cars, in St. Petersburg, Florida. It was bought about a decade ago by long time dealer/collector Martin Godbey, then passed through one further keeper into the current ownership. Since acquisition, the car has been on static display. As such, mechanical recommissioning is recommended prior to active enjoyment.

Presently in an Old English White livery, with red interior and corresponding coachlines, this is a supremely elegant piece of post war design on the sporting and understated Bentley chassis.