BENTLEY R-TYPE SALOON BY JAMES YOUNG
The first of the post-War Bentleys, the Mk VI,
was launched in May 1946 and was aimed at the owner-driver sector
of the market. The 6-cylinder 4257cc IOE engine was a direct
descendant of the pre-War design, albeit in a higher state of tune
than its Rolls-Royce counterpart. Perhaps the most unusual
break from tradition was the use of a pressed steel body as
standard, whereas previously all Rolls-Royce and Bentley motor cars
had always been supplied in chassis form to be fitted with
coachwork of the owner’s choice.
This elegant and compact model appealed
greatly, and was not only a success at home but also in the
important export markets. The theme established with the Mk
VI was to continue with the R-Type, introduced in 1951. The
standard steel-bodied R-Type saloon differed in appearance from its
predecessor by the enlarged boot and the engine was the 4½ -litre
‘big bore’ unit which had been introduced in the later Mk VI
models. Between 1952 and 1955, some 2,320 R-Types were built,
303 of which were supplied in chassis form in order to receive
coachbuilt bodywork.
Of these coachbuilt models, without doubt
amongst the most elegant were those by James Young, and it is an
example of the 4-door saloon that we offer here. Dating from
1953, the motor car is smartly finished in dark blue over Old
English White and retains its original grey hide upholstery.
The lower half was repainted some two years ago and at the same
time the exhaust system was replaced and we understand that the car
runs very well. We are advised that there have been only two
owners prior to the vendor, these being the original owner and his
daughter.
Documentation supplied with the motor car
includes a V5C and MOT certificate current until 17th
November 2008.
Year of Manufacture: 1953
Estimate: £14,000 - £16,500