1953 Bentley R-Type Continental Sports Saloon by H J Mulliner
- Engine
- 4.6L inline-six, inlet-over-exhaust valvetrain, ~153 bhp
- Colour
- Masons Black (restored to original)
Chassis BC20C is a 1953 Bentley R-Type Continental fastback sports saloon bodied by H J Mulliner, one of only 208 examples produced. Delivered new in December 1953 in Masons Black with Burgundy hide, it was supplied to its first owner via Charles Atwood & Son and subsequently passed through several distinguished hands before entering a single long-term ownership lasting over four decades from 1971 to 2014. A comprehensive professional restoration in 2014–2015 returned the car to its original colour scheme, and the history file is among the most complete on record for a car of this type.
Ownership
- 2019-12-07Auction saleEstimate £900,000 – £1,100,000
- 1953-12-18 →Factory deliveryB P Jenkspartial documentation
First owner; car delivered via Charles Atwood and Son in December 1953 finished in black with burgundy interior and manual gearbox.
- 1956 →Acquisition unknownSir Henry Spurrierpartial documentation
- 1962 →Acquisition unknownS R H Clarkepartial documentation
- 1971 → 2014Private saleFlight Lieutenant T N Allenfull documentation
Acquired from dealer Frank Dale and Stepsons; retained the car for over four decades with a comprehensive service and invoice record. During the 1970s had the car resprayed white and retrimmed in grey; in 1997 commissioned a full coachwork restoration and bare-metal repaint from Classic Restorations of Alyth.
- 2014 → 2015Acquisition unknownHexagon Classicspartial documentation
Carried out an extensive refurbishment during 2014 and 2015 covering full mechanical overhaul, bare-metal repaint in original colour, complete re-trim in correct burgundy hides, new carpeting, headlining, and wood veneer restoration.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1997RestorationClassic Restorations of Alyth
Full coachwork restoration and bare-metal repaint carried out, finishing the car in Jaguar Metallichrome Blue while retaining the existing grey interior trim.
- 2014RestorationHexagon Classics
Comprehensive refurbishment encompassing a complete mechanical overhaul, bare-metal repaint in the original Masons Black, full interior retrim in correct Burgundy Connolly hide, new Wilton carpeting, new West of England Cloth headlining, and complete refinishing of all wood veneers.
Work spanned 2014 and 2015; returned the car to its original factory colour specification.
- —Bodywork
The car was resprayed white and the interior retrimmed in light grey during the 1970s.
Work was carried out at an unspecified point during the 1970s while under Flight Lieutenant Allen's ownership.
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