Bentley R Type Continental H.J. Mulliner Fastback

The R Type Continental with H.J. Mulliner's fastback coachwork is one of the defining British grand tourers of the 1950s. This 1955 car is an 'E' series, one of the last built, and so carries the larger 4.9-litre engine. It is paired with the automatic gearbox, which is the easier car to drive of the two.

It is presented in largely original condition. The Dragonfly blue paint has faded with age, and the interior keeps its beige leather piped in blue, along with the original carpets. The page describes the coachwork as straight and precise. The odometer shows about 69,000 miles from new.

The history is well documented. The file includes the original 1955 buff logbook and the first owner's sales invoice. He kept the car for 26 years, and one family then owned it for 27 years until 2008. Four owners are recorded in total. The car has just been recommissioned and serviced and is offered with an MoT. It has been driven on a 450-mile round trip. Chassis number BC3E, registered PYR 1.