The Bentley R-Type are justifiably recognized as underrated classic post-war vehicle. One significant derivative was the first of the legendary Car Bentley Continentals. The Bentley R-Type is the first post-war production car from Bentley and marked a shift away from cars being individually coach-built to customer specifications and towards standardized bodywork.

A high-speed express with beautiful, streamlined styling by H.J.Mulliner. During the lifespan of the R-Type and its predecessor, the Mark VI, both models sold particularly well in Australia, making the largest export market in the world for these cars. With strong performance, excellent build quality and plenty of character available for a very reasonable outlay.

The first Standard Steel bodies were introduced on the Bentley Mark VI in 1946, following the proven Rolls-Royce practice of carefully updating its models in stages. The Standard Steel fulfilled the company’s commercial requirements, but not necessarily those of all its customers. Consequently, while the number of custom coach-builders dwindled after the war, a small number remained to cloak the Bentley chassis in bespoke bodywork for the most select and demanding clientele.

Adding a greater level of exclusivity, Bentley made a number of mechanical upgrades to the Mark VI in 1952, creating the R-Type. Standard Steel examples were now similar in appearance to the Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn, while the six-cylinder engine was enlarged to 4,566 cc and produced an estimated 150 horsepower. The new GM Hydra-Matic automatic transmission proved immensely popular and the new model was capable of top speeds exceeding 100 mph.