Bentley R Type Continental Fastback By H.J. Mulliner

The R-Type Continental with H.J. Mulliner's fastback coachwork is one of the defining British grand tourers of the early 1950s, and this manual-gearbox example, chassis BC-15-B, has a notable ownership history. Factory records show it went to Mulliner in February 1953 and was finished in Smoke Green over Grey Green leather. It was delivered four months later to its first owner, W G Riley of Birmingham.

The best-known keeper was the politician and Bentley enthusiast Alan Clark, who bought it after more than twenty years with D G Silcock. Clark never restored the car cosmetically. He fitted lightweight seats and made a small number of sporting modifications. Octane's Robert Coucher test-drove it in 2014. After Clark died in 1999 it passed to his widow, Jane, and then to Mark Stimson of London, who had work done in 2007, with invoices on file.

The dealer describes the car as retaining its original engine and as best left in its patinated, unrestored state. No mileage is stated.