1953 Bentley R-Type 4½-Litre Sports Special

Registration no. PNU 920 Chassis no. B25TO Engine no. B12T

Footnotes

For all their many virtues, the 'Silent Sports Car' and its post-WW2 successors - the Mark VI and R-Type - seem to some Bentley enthusiasts to lack the character of their Cricklewood-built predecessors; not for them the comfort of being wafted along in complete silence at 90mph! Over recent decades prices fetched by genuine Vintage-era Bentleys have risen to levels well beyond the reach of all but the wealthiest; this fact and the absence of anything remotely resembling its Vintage touring models from the post-war Bentley range has meant that enthusiasts with a desire for top-down, wind-in-the-hair excitement had little choice but to opt for a conversion. Fortunately there has for many years been a plentiful supply of 'standard steel' saloons too badly corroded to warrant restoration, thus providing suitable chassis for transformation into something more exciting.

There have been countless such 'specials' created by enthusiastic private owners on the Mark VI and R-Type chassis, while over the years numerous specialist coachbuilders have offered variations on the theme. The beautifully crafted R-Type-based special offered here is the work of its owner, a highly skilled and experienced engineer, whose previous projects include converting a Ferrari 250 GTE into the much more desirable 250 GT SWB. He is a true enthusiast whose enjoyment comes from the build rather than use. The attention to detail is most impressive.

Notable features include a newly manufactured short chassis and front cross member; Dunlop racing tyres on new 19" wire wheels; and the bonnet and grille from a 3½-litre Derby Bentley (numbered 'E7BW' to the bonnet). The car has just been painted but has been sprayed in such a way to give the feel of some age, rather than looking like something that had been recently completed. Trimmed in leather, the interior boasts original Bentley instrumentation, has two timing clocks fitted and displays faux event stickers, further adding to the authentic feel.

The owner spent thousands of hours shaping the wings and aluminium bodywork by hand, but as a 'home build' there are no invoices for labour! There are invoices on file for various parts purchased for the four-year project, and the car also comes with a photographic record of the build. Only 10 miles have been covered since the Bentley was completed in 2021 and thus further shakedown running will be required. What better way to enjoy the coming summer months?