1952 Bentley R-Type Continental Sports Saloon
- Colour
- Dark green over beige
Chassis BC20A is the 19th Bentley R-Type Continental produced, built to an unusually detailed special-order specification that included rear-wheel spats, lightweight adjustable seats, kilometre-calibrated instrumentation, high-frequency horns, dual fog lamps, and a bespoke cooling arrangement. Delivered in early 1953 to a Swiss owner and displayed at the Geneva Salon that March, the car later crossed to the United States and was comprehensively restored by Anthony 'Bud' Korteweg, founder of the celebrated Rolls-Royce and Bentley restoration house The Coachworks. It retains its original engine and returned to the United Kingdom in 2014.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate €1,000,000 – €1,300,000
- 1953 → 1960Factory deliveryLouis Schneiterfull documentation
Swiss resident based in Coffet, Vaud; car was delivered to him shortly after being shown at the Geneva Salon in early 1953, and it remained in Europe throughout his ownership.
- 1960 →Private saleLamont Haggartypartial documentation
US-based owner who acquired the car from Europe and had it exported to the United States; no end date for this ownership is specified.
- 2014 →Acquisition unknownCurrent custodianpartial documentation
Brought the car back to Europe and had it comprehensively serviced by a London-based Bentley specialist in late 2015 at a cost of approximately £40,000.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownAnthony 'Bud' Kortewegpartial documentation
Founder of a respected Rolls-Royce and Bentley restoration business in River Edge, New Jersey; carried out a full restoration and kept the car for personal use; believed to have fitted a front bumper and rear seating from a later S-Type Bentley during this period.
Competition
- 1953-03-011953 Geneva Motor ShowExhibited
Bentley displayed the car to potential buyers and automotive press shortly after formal delivery to its first owner.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2015MechanicalThe Chelsea Workshop
Extensive mechanical recommissioning covering brakes, suspension, engine, gearbox, and clutch, totalling approximately £40,000, carried out to ensure the car was roadworthy for regular use.
Work undertaken in autumn 2015; invoices retained as supporting documentation.
- —RestorationThe Coachworks
Full restoration carried out during Anthony Korteweg's ownership; believed to include fitting a front bumper and rear seating sourced from a later S-Type Bentley. Described as the last personal-use car he had restored.
Exact date unknown; occurred during Korteweg's period of ownership.
Are you the owner of this car?
This car's public record is built from its auction and competition history. Register your ownership and privately add your own records to make it a verified Legacy Metrics passport — provenance that backs your car's value at sale and gives your insurer evidence to price against. Roy reviews and verifies every registration personally.