Bentley R, 1954, Standard Steel Sports Saloon and Bentley R, 1953

This series was in our view that last Rolls Bentley that had anything special about it. After this time, there was nothing to choose between the Rolls badge and the Bentley. Production of the Bentley R Type commenced in 1952. The R type Bentley is distinguished only by the speed at which the steel body rusted. The Continental model on the other hand was one of the great designs of the time. The factory saloon coachwork was indistinguishable from that of the Bentley Mark VI up to the rear doors, the back however covered under a one-piece boot lid a more spacious luggage compartment. By special order the R-Type was delivered as rolling-chassis to become subject of custom coachwork. Built and designed for Continental use was the Bentley R Continental with a tuned 4,566 cc engine (later increased to 4,887 cc) with low-loss exhaust system and higher geared gearbox and rear axle ratios. The majority of R Type Continentals were clothed with light aerodynamically styled two door fastback saloons by H.J. Mulliner; only very few received bespoke coachwork from Graber in Switzerland, Franay in France and one body was created by Pininfarina in Italy.

No. made:

Bentley R Continental