1955 Bentley R-Type Continental Sports Saloon

BC67LDroadUnited Kingdom

Engine: 4.9L OHV inline-six with twin SU carburetors, ~178 bhp
Colour: Deep black

Chassis BC67LD is a 1955 Bentley R-Type Continental Sports Saloon bodied by H.J. Mulliner, belonging to the fourth 'D' series and one of 193 examples built to this design. Originally ordered by J. Guinness of Monaco and equipped from new with the desirable 4.9-litre engine and four-speed automatic gearbox, it was airlifted to Le Touquet and delivered through Franco-Brittanic Automobiles of Paris. The car retains its original maroon leather interior and black coachwork, and has covered just 27,816 kilometres.

Ownership

—Auction sale
Sold US$1,127,500
RM Sotheby's catalogue lot →
1955 →Factory delivery
J. Guinness
full documentation
Original buyer based in Monaco; ordered the car with an automatic gearbox, prompting Bentley to specially transfer a Mulliner body onto this chassis. Vehicle was flown to Le Touquet and delivered via Franco-Brittanic Automobiles in Paris.
1980 →Private sale
Christian Teissier
partial documentation
French collector who acquired the car through the dealer Frank Dale and Stepsons.
1998 →Private sale
Michel Kruch
partial documentation
Belgian owner who obtained the car in a direct private transaction.
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
Monsieur Chauvel
partial documentation
French resident; one of three successive owners handled by Franco-Brittanic Automobiles after the original buyer.
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
Monsieur Bonnal
partial documentation
French resident; second of three successive owners following the original buyer, all managed through Franco-Brittanic Automobiles.
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
Monsieur Meuli
partial documentation
French resident; third successive owner after the original buyer, again handled through Franco-Brittanic Automobiles.
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
Friedhelm Loh
partial documentation
Well-known collector whose holdings were described as a prominent and respected vehicle stable.
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
Andrews Collection
partial documentation
Current consignor; acquired the car several years before the auction.

Competition

No competition history extracted from the catalogue.

Maintenance & restoration

1955Modification
H.J. Mulliner
Body was transferred by H.J. Mulliner from an unsold chassis (B16D) onto this new chassis to accommodate the customer's requirement for an automatic gearbox, at a cost of £157 paid by Bentley Motors.
This explains why the body number is lower than expected for a late D-series chassis.
1955Maintenance
Franco-Brittanic Automobiles
Car underwent extensive pre-delivery testing following its arrival at Le Touquet via Silver City Airways before being handed over to the first owner.
Car was airlifted from Ferryfield Airport to Le Touquet for this pre-delivery process.

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