Lot details Registration No: WSJ 713 Chassis No: B3TO Mot Expiry: Sept 2005
The forerunner of the Bentley R Type was the MkVI, which was announced in 1946 and which featured a sturdy channel-section chassis with independent wishbone/coil spring front suspension and a live, leaf-sprung back axle. Although sharing the 4257cc six-cylinder engine with inlet-over-exhaust valve layout with its Rolls-Royce sister model, the Wraith, the Bentley version did at least have a wilder camshaft and twin carburettors. Although most MkVIs were fitted with the standard Pressed Steel of Oxford made four-door saloon body, albeit hand-finished at Crewe (the same body being employed for the R-R Silver Dawn from 1949), many were customised by the coachbuilding industry such as Park Ward.
From mid-1951, a larger, more powerful and torquey 4566cc capacity six was used to power both Rolls and Bentley equivalents as well as the R Type Bentley, which was made 1952-1955, the later cars having larger boots and associated changes to rear wings and suspension as well as an auto-shift option. The R Type was a sporting and yet a very refined owner-driver model, which could cover long distances in great comfort.
Being auctioned here is not only one such 1953-made Bentley R Type, but a really good looking and much rare convertible version, the two-door open bodywork having been hand-crafted by Park Ward. Previously owned by newspaperman Woodrow Wyatt and formerly registered 1 BNG, chassis number B3 TO was only re-registered with the current WSJ 713 plates in March of this year.
According to the current owner of some twenty years, the right-hand drive chassis and the open bodywork as well as the paintwork in two-tone blue are in good all round condition and the blue leather interior has been replaced. Whilst the 4½-litre six-cylinder engine was rebuilt in around 1995, he says, the transmission is the original and desirable to have four-speed manual gearbox.
The latest MOT test certificate on file, which was issued 27 September 2004 and therefore will be valid until the end of September this year, records that 76,613 miles were displayed on the odometer, although the vendor reckons that the overall mileage for this open Bentley is actually likely to be a little more, although thought to be less than 78,000 in total.
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