Description
Bentley R-Type Park Ward Cabriolet | 1954
Highlights:
– 4.6-litre inline-six engine, petrol, four-speed automatic transmission
– Coachbuilt cabriolet body by Park Ward
– Described by the seller as chassis number 1 of 6 built in 1954
– Right-hand drive
– Pale blue leather interior with walnut dashboard
The private seller offers for sale this 1954 Bentley R-Type Park Ward Cabriolet, powered by a 4,566 cc inline six-cylinder engine, paired with a four-speed automatic transmission. The car is finished in a silver-blue metallic with a dark blue hood, and the cabin combines pale blue leather seats with dark blue carpets and a polished walnut dashboard fitted with Smiths instruments. According to the seller, this is chassis number 1 of the six examples built in 1954, which makes it a rare and distinctive car. It is right-hand drive, as Crewe intended.
The R-Type was introduced in 1952 as the successor to the Mark VI and was the last Bentley to share its roots so closely with the pre-war tradition of separate chassis and coachbuilt bodies. It kept the proven Mark VI chassis but gained the larger 4,566 cc engine and, from 1952, the option of a four-speed automatic gearbox, built by Rolls-Royce under licence. Most R-Types left the factory with the standard steel saloon body, while only a small number of rolling chassis were delivered to independent coachbuilders. Park Ward, owned by Rolls-Royce since 1939, was among the most respected of these houses, and its open bodies on the R-Type chassis remain some of the most sought-after Bentleys of the period.
Under the long bonnet sits the six-cylinder engine with overhead inlet and side exhaust valves, delivering the smooth, effortless torque for which these cars are known. Power goes to the rear wheels through the four-speed automatic transmission. The suspension is independent at the front by wishbones and coil springs, with a live rear axle on half-elliptic leaf springs, and the servo-assisted drum brakes are hydraulic at the front and mechanical at the rear. With the hood lowered, this Park Ward cabriolet offers a rare combination of open-air touring, hand-built coachwork and the quiet authority of a 1950s Bentley, a combination that appeals strongly to collectors of British coachbuilt motor cars.
Condition of the bodywork & paint
4 — Very Good. Clean with minimal wear; might need minor replacements for small missing or broken parts.
Condition of the interior
4 — Very Good. Displays only minimal wear and can hit the road any time.
Technical condition
3 — Good. Bodywork or mechanical repairs needed; drives.
Overall condition
3 — Good. Bodywork or mechanical repairs needed; drives.
This item is sold on an as-is basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and descriptions of the listing are for information purposes only.
