Car & Classic Premium Verified Dealer

Graeme Hunt Ltd

Viewing by Appointment Central London

1953 Bentley 'R' Type Continental by HJ Mulliner SOLD

An amazing example of, truly the most spectacular post war design that Bentley were to produce

More than this, BC7C has one of the most interesting lives of any

As was the case when the R Type was first delivered, the customer of list for the factory was a veritable Who's Who from the fifties, and our particular example was first ordered and specified personally by Billionaire Stavros Niarchos

His wealth escalated when the Suez Crisis closed the Canal and demand for his super tankers skyrocketed

Niarchos kept his Bentley until 1959 when the second owner took over ownership - in fact the ownership history of this 'R' Type is most unusually complete from new to this day

The 5th owner took over custodianship in March 1971, at which point the mileage was 161. 739 (there had been a full engine rebuild in 1969 at 148. 000 miles)

He kept the car for the next 41 years and and kept all records of maintenance and upgrades - he was very keen on using the Bentley as intended and hence his love of long journey's on the Continent

He fitted electronic ignition, free flow manifolds, gas flowed cylinder head (compression was increased slightly and BHP was increased by 20) and fitting a new carburettor air box with ducted fresh air intake and a modern filter

He was most keen on keeping her cool in the high summer temperatures overseas and hence he fitted a 4 core radiator with pressurised header tank (9lbs pressure to be exact), with twin 12" electric cooling fans and an oil cooler too

One of the best running cars of its' type we have encountered over the years

The 6th owner has owner her for 7 years and kept he within his personal collection of varied classics

Once purchased he send her down to us for a bare metal repaint and a complete interior refurbishment

Once we had stripped her down any repairs to the aluminium body were undertaken by our team and she remains after 7 years ripple free with very sharp shut lines too

For the interior, the wooden veneers were in perfect order so these were kept as is, whereas the headlining, rear parcel shelf (in hide unusually) door cards and seats were all retrimmed in light tan, with contrasting carpets bound in hide

Mileage now is standing at 18. 924 (218. 924 overall as suggested by the previous ownership trail and mileage indicators therein)

To sum up BC7C still feels and smells like new, runs sublimely and with such a low ownership since new, we suggest there no better 'R' Type Continental on the market

This advert has now been removed through sale or otherwise.
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