1952 Bentley R Type

This is a unique coachbuilt R Type Bentley, designed, built, and displayed at the 1952 Earls Court Motor Show, along with 1 other Bentley and 2 Rolls-Royce cars. It is the first of only 9 such cars to be built by Freestone and Webb. It is chassis Number 6, and is described as a Bentley Mk7 on the factory build sheet. It is therefore one of only a hand full of Mk7's built before the "R Type" designation was adopted due to the dispute with Jaguar. The car is mostly original, and has never been restored, just repaired as required. The car runs and drives well, but is tired and would benefit from some sympathetic restoration. It has a very interesting back story, being the first diplomatic car owned by the West German Embassy from 1953 to 1979. It was then purchased by a Harley Street Surgeon as his daily drive from 1979 to 2006. I have owned the car since 2010, after buying it off Ebay. Due to the cars historic significance it appears in all the Marque Histories, and has been featured in many of the Classic Car magazines, including on the front cover of the 2nd ever edition of Rolls-Royce and Bentley driver. It was also featured in a 6 page article in the RREC club magazine "Spirit and Speed". In addition it has been invited to and displayed at many of the major classic car shows, including every year from 2014 to 2025 at the NEC in November. There is only 1 other similar car in the UK, the others being in the USA so you are very unlikely to ever see another.

The car is unique and was designed to show off the skills of the Freestone and Webb craftsmen and took over four months to build. At the Earls Court Show in this "attention grabbing" black over Jewelescent green, it helped to win a Coachbuilders award for the Company. It comes with a drinks cabinet in the drivers door, a picnic set in the passenger door, together with its original tools, handbook, and part service history. It is structurally sound, being and alloy body on a timber frame work. It was one of the most expensive cars on display at the show, costing an eye watering £6500, when the average weekly wage was £5.