1954 Bentley R-Type Continental Sports Saloon
- Engine
- 4.6L inline-six
- Colour
- Pacific Green over beige leather
Chassis BC61C is one of 207 Bentley R-Type Continentals built between 1952 and 1955, bodied as a Sports Saloon by H.J. Mulliner and delivered new in May 1954 through Kingsbury Motors. Fitted with a 4,566-cc six-cylinder engine, a close-ratio gearbox, and several notable factory options including Le Mans-style Lucas headlights, the car was the fastest four-seat production model of its era. It passed through several documented owners across Britain and New Zealand before returning to the United Kingdom in 2010, and retains its matching-numbers drivetrain throughout.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold £511,250 (≈ $639K)
- 1954-05-05 →Factory deliveryL C Hudsonfull documentation
Birmingham-based manufacturer of ACME whistles who took delivery via Kingsbury Motors in London; specified numerous bespoke extras and accumulated over 100,000 miles during his tenure.
- 1960 → 1963Private saleMelville-Smithpartial documentation
Acquired the car around the turn of the decade; during this period the vehicle received a thorough service and engine overhaul at Rolls-Royce in Crewe ahead of its export to New Zealand.
- 1963-11-01 → 1973Private saleIan Maxwell-Stewartpartial documentation
Wellington-based jeweller who purchased the car through London Bentley specialist Stanley Sedgwick; reportedly the sole R-Type Continental in New Zealand at the time.
- 1973 → 1976Acquisition unknownChristchurch-based ownerpartial documentation
Car was kept in Christchurch, New Zealand for approximately three years following Maxwell-Stewart's ownership.
- 1976 → 2010Private saleJim Sawerspartial documentation
Long-term custodian for around 34 years who commissioned a comprehensive rebuild encompassing the gearbox, original-numbers engine, and suspension.
- 2010 →Private saleCurrent consignorfull documentation
Repatriated the car to the UK and spent substantially on cosmetic and mechanical upkeep, including retrimming, rewiring, brake servicing, and chassis protection, with documented invoices on file.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1963ServiceRolls-Royce, Crewe
Full service and engine overhaul carried out in preparation for the car's export to New Zealand, arranged through specialist dealer Stanley Sedgwick.
Work undertaken prior to the November 1963 sale.
- 2015RestorationPride and Joy Classics
Multi-work programme costing approximately £38,281 encompassing boot and carpet retrimming, dashboard rewiring, brake servicing, and underbody chassis protection.
Work spanned from February 2015 to December 2016; invoices held on file.
- 2021ServiceEd Watson & Co
General servicing costing approximately £1,388.
- 2022ServiceBroughtons of Cheltenham
Annual service and MoT inspection costing approximately £992.
Workshop has since been acquired by H.R. Owen.
- —Engine rebuild
Rebuild of the matching-numbers engine, gearbox, and suspension carried out during Mr Jim Sawers' extended ownership period.
Work commissioned by Sawers sometime during his approximately 34-year ownership from around 1976.
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.