1953 Bentley R-Type Continental
- Colour
- Smoke Green
Bentley R-Type Continental chassis BC15B was bodied by Mulliner and dispatched in early 1953, finished in Smoke Green over Grey Green leather — colours it retains today. Notably owned by the Rt. Hon. Alan Clark MP, a prominent Bentley authority and British politician, who kept the car in largely unrestored condition for roughly two decades. Its original engine remains in place, and the car was road-tested as late as 2014 by Octane magazine.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate €700,000 – €800,000
- 1953-06-01 → 1958-07-01Factory deliveryWG Rileyfull documentation
First registered owner, based in Birmingham. Car delivered in original Smoke Green over Grey Green leather specification.
- 1958-07-01 → 1961-09-01Acquisition unknownSB Whitepartial documentation
Resident of Surrey; no detail given regarding any work carried out during this period.
- 1961-09-01 →Acquisition unknownDG Silcockpartial documentation
Based in Acton; retained the car for more than two decades before selling to Alan Clark.
- → 1999Private saleAlan Clarkpartial documentation
Conservative MP and noted Bentley authority. Chose to preserve originality, though he did add lightweight seats and a few sporting modifications. Died late 1999.
- 1999 →InheritanceJane Clarkpartial documentation
Widow of Alan Clark; inherited the car following his death and subsequently sold it to Mark Stimson.
- Date unknownPrivate saleMark Stimsonpartial documentation
London-based owner who commissioned a refurbishment in 2007, supported by invoices retained in the car's file.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2007Service
General refurbishment and freshening work carried out, with invoices retained as supporting documentation.
Commissioned by Mark Stimson of London.
- —Modification
Lightweight seats fitted and a small number of modifications of a sporting nature carried out during Alan Clark's ownership.
Owner was philosophically opposed to cosmetic restoration and otherwise kept the car in its original state.
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