1954 | Bentley R-Type Continental

HISTORY

The Bentley R Type Continental is arguably the most significant post-war car produced by Rolls-Royce. It was the fastest production four seater in the World and would cruise at 100 mph. It carried stunning light alloy coachwork and was highly exclusive with only 208 examples being built. It combined style, performance and innovation with the company’s universally acknowledged reputation for reliability

The complete history of BC 61 C is known and documented and it is exceptional. It has matching numbers, is fitted with the desirable manual gearbox, the sought after lightweight seats and retains its original registration “6 BMC”

When the car was ordered it was specified with a number of special options that included the passenger seat which is two inches wider than standard and has an integral armrest. The Negretti and Zambra altimeter is positioned in the centre of the dashboard and the master switch re-located to the right of the steering wheel, 3 way fuel pump switch on dashboard, Elbow Rests, Telescopic driving mirror, Lucas Windtone Horns, Lucas Le Mans Headlights, GB letters on the boot and many more items

The interior retains the original leather and instrumentation including an impressive altimeter by the renowned instrument maker, Negretti & Zambra of London. The carpets have been renewed along with the paintwork. The car has been well maintained and accordingly is a delight on the road and is accompanied by its tools and a weighty history file that includes letters, photos, invoices and the original handbook

BC 61 C has had only six owners in total and the current custodian has owned the car since October 2010

The first owner was Leon Hudson, a flamboyant character whose business was famous for making the ACME Whistle, suppliers to forces and organisations worldwide. Hudson had a great fondness for the Continental and took it on a number of extensive European tours. He kept the car for six years and covered over 100, 000 miles with it

John Melville-Smith was the second owner and he kept the car until 1960. The car passed through the hands of Stanley Sedgewick and under his supervision was thoroughly overhauled by Rolls-Royce at Crewe before being exported to Mr. I. R. Maxwell Stewart in New Zealand

The fourth owner was Mr. D Bowman who only kept the car for three years unlike the next owner, Jim Sawyers who began a 34 year relationship in 1976. In his care the car benefitted from some extensive mechanical restoration including a gearbox rebuild, new king-pins, a suspension overhaul and an engine rebuild that included a new cylinder head and re-conditioned carburettors

When the current owner repatriated the car in 2010 it was delivered directly to Padgett Engineering and after a major service was declared to be a well maintained original car in fine fettle. Its appearance was smartened up by re-plating the brightwork and refreshing the paint. The decision was taken to preserve the wonderful original leather and this is complimented by a new set of carpets to factory specification

BC 61 C was the subject of a 9 page feature March/April 2022 issue of the highly regarded ‘Rolls-Royce and Bentley Driver’ magazine