1954 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback

With all the accolades that the Vintage Bentley has received, a single postwar model deserves similar praise. The R-Type Continental Fastback is, in all respects, a stroke of genius and is perfectly embodied by the spectacular example offered here.

It was perhaps The Autocar that best captured the essence of Bentley’s exclusive model upon its release: “This Bentley is a modern magic carpet which annihilates distances and delivers the occupants well-nigh as fresh as when they started. It is a car Britain may well be proud of, and it is sure to add new lustre to the name it bears.”

A clean-sheet design for which there was no equivalent Rolls-Royce, the R-Type Continental Fastback by H.J. Mulliner represents the essence of 1950s luxury grand touring. Upon its release, the R-Type Continental was the world’s fastest four-seater as well as the most expensive production car. Its top speed of 120 mph was achieved in the utmost comfort and style.

Of the 207 production R-Type Continentals built, 192 received fastback coachwork by H.J. Mulliner as developed on the prototype, known affectionately as “Olga.” From every angle, the H.J. Mulliner Fastback is a stunning example of the coachbuilder’s art. From the curved front windscreen to the slightly raked radiator shell and the perfectly proportioned rear fenders, the design is breathtaking and evokes the effortless performance that Bentley provided with its uprated Continental underpinnings.

Lightweight was the watchword, and H.J. Mulliner’s proprietary all-aluminum construction method delivered. Even the carpets, leather, and glass were considered “aero-grade,” weighing less than standard materials. Production of the exclusive Continental commenced in January 1952, and the limited production was marked by gradual evolution and improvement.

Original owners of these incredible machines include a roster of world-famous names such as Onassis, Cunningham, Burden, Filipinetti, and Embiricos, as well as a host of royals. Significantly, this R-Type Continental, chassis BC38LC, was the second purchased by famed American sportsman Bill Spear, who took delivery of his first R-Type, chassis BC3A, in mid-1952. A compatriot of Briggs Cunningham and member of his racing team, Spear’s races and successes with the newest competition Ferraris of the day are well documented – including his five consecutive years driving at the 24 Hours of Le Mans – and his love for and access to life’s finer pleasures are evident as well.

The example offered here, chassis BC38LC, was originally ordered with the options Alfred Momo specified on Spear’s first R-Type, as he also did for Cunningham and Charles Moran. The delivered options included special damper valving, a Bluemels sprung steering wheel, and a shift-lever extension; the main difference between Spear’s two cars being that this second Fastback was optioned in left-hand drive, one of just 44 built in total. According to Christian Hueber and David Sulzberger’s definitive register, BC38LC was damaged at an SCCA race in Hagerstown, Maryland, when a competitor’s 300 SL Gullwing left the track and made contact with the Bentley in the paddock. As the bodywork was being repaired, Spear upgraded the R-Type’s engine to the enlarged 4.9-litre unit that the Bentley factory made available via an exchange program to buyers of the A-, B-, and C-Series Continentals.

In 1957, the R-Type was in the ownership of Edward Nisbet of Connecticut, and in 1961, it joined the esteemed collection of Mr. W. Flaccus Stifel of Maryland, where it remained for over 20 years. Following acquisition by two additional US-based owners in the 1980s and 1990s, BC38LC was exported to Switzerland in 1998, when it was acquired by His Highness Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan. Known primarily for his environmental and humanitarian work throughout the world, the prince was also a lifelong lover of automobiles, with his collection including a Rolls-Royce Phantom IV, Aston Martin DB5, and a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Coupe. Interestingly, the prince had considered purchasing an R-Type in the early 1950s but passed on the opportunity. Soon after the purchase, the prince commissioned a restoration of the Continental under the supervision of William Medcalf, a London-based restorer and official within the Bentley Drivers Club. It is clear from the volume of correspondence between the two men that not only was a thorough refurbishment of the car performed, but they became personal friends as well.

The work was finished in April 1999, and the prince is said to have been seen in the R-Type quite often on the mountain roads above Gstaad. In 2001, the prince had a pair of lightweight-style seats built and upholstered to match in anticipation of taking part in various rallies. Plans were made for the prince to attend the 50th anniversary celebration of the R-Type at Silverstone in 2002, where over 50 of the cars would be gathered, but failing health prevented his attendance. Upon the Aga Khan’s passing in 2003, he bequeathed his Bentley to his loyal chauffeur of 22 years who, in early 2004, sold it via a broker to a respected Swiss-based collector and friend of the Aga Khan.

In early 2007, the new owner sent the R-Type to renowned Rolls-Royce and Bentley authorities P & A Wood outside London for considerable additional restoration services. A group of highly detailed receipts totaling nearly $400,000 chronicle the progression of the work, which encompassed mechanical, electrical, and cosmetic aspects. The coachwork was refinished in a darker shade of blue, and the overall results of the job are truly stunning. Once complete, the Bentley took part in the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, where it earned a well-deserved First in Class award. In 2018, the Bentley joined a US-based collection, each member of which had been carefully chosen as a masterpiece of design. Joining the consignor’s collection in 2022, this magnificent R-Type continues to present at the concours level, with its engine compartment and undercarriage gleaming, in keeping with the near-flawless brightwork of the exterior, and finely finished wooden dash veneers accenting the beautifully trimmed interior space. Additionally, the Bentley is accompanied by tools, jack, spare, and manual. The R-Type’s completion of the California Mille in 2026 is a testament to its mechanical prowess and innate driveability.

Presented here is the most desirable specification R-Type in the most elegant of colors, with restoration work by preeminent experts and a fascinating, well-documented history. With all these factors in play, BC38LC may well be the best of the best.