Story and History

1953 Bentley 'R' Type Continental Fastback by HJ Mulliner - BC23A

We do rather like these and have had quite a few through our hands over the years, both to restore and to sell as well

They do drive in an exemplary manner and post war these are probably the best Bentley to have been produced - certainly from this model all post war Bentley's have taken their inspiration, right up until the most recent of the modern Bentley sports coupes

Our current example is one of the very best we have seen with the last owner taking possession in 1974, and adding her to a collection which includes Lamborghini 400GT, Maserati Ghibli Spider, Ferrari 250 California Spider, Delahaye's etc, etc - you get the picture

He purchased her when showing still only 41.000 kms from the President of Societe des Centres Commerciaux Place Vendome, Monsieur Cohen Solal. She has always been a French registered car, and still carries '75 plates to this day and is fitted with a KMS speedo, manual gears, rear wheel spats. light weight seats and appropriate Marchal headlights

Franco Britannic of Levallois Paris, supplied her to the first industrialist owner, Monsieur Gerard Foussier, President of Pernod Ricard and then Coca-Cola,

France

It's a small world for I supplied a Bentley Turbo R to Claude Foussier, again a Director of Coca-Cola in Europe, this time via his home in Chelsea Square. When I went to meet him there I was received by a fully uniformed Butler before being ushered into his study to complete the paperwork - it's rather reassuring to know these life styles do still exist

As an important part of our intrepid collectors stable BC23A has been used sparingly but at important events nevertheless

She participated in the 50th Anniversary Parade at Silverstone hosted by the BDC in 2002, at which an unprecedented 92 'R' Type Continentals assembled for this land mark celebration. Owners from Britain, Europe, Japan, North America, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa converged at the largest Continental gathering ever - both at that time and since

She would also have been seen gliding along the Boulevards of Paris, Monaco and Geneve too for the kilometerage has now risen to just 91.000

Maintenance has usually been entrusted to Franco Britannic in Levallois (as he states AT great expense) and more recently to Nyfeller of Bulle, Switzerland

Indeed more recently the engine, gearbox and rear axle have all been overhauled in Switzerland (again at great expense) and the bodywork has been stripped to bare metal and repainted (beautifully) and the veneers have been completely revarnished

The carpets and leather seating are in wonderful, slightly patinated condition and as a very early example she is of the lightweight construction and enjoys the delightful single, multifunction, rear light unit

A joy to behold, a joy to drive and with a wonderful story book, BC23A represents an exceptional opportunity to join this very exclusive coach built Bentley Club