1954 BENTLEY HOOPER EMPRESS R-TYPE SPORTS SALOON Registration No. TBA Chassis No. B 210 WH Engine No. B 105 W Burgundy over sand with beige leather upholstery. Engine: six cylinder in line, overhead valve, twin carburettors, 4,566cc, 150bhp at 4,500rpm; Gearbox: automatic; Brakes: hydraulic front, mechanical rear, servo assisted; Suspension: front wishbones and coil springs, rear, rigid axle with semi elliptic rear springs. Right hand drive. Following the success of the post-war series Bentley Mk VI, which was in production from 1946 to 1952, a revised, updated, four door, four light standard saloon, the R-Type, was launched in June 1952. The 'R' prefix was derived from the fact that the Mk VI series had at that time reached the chassis letter R. The car was very similar in all aspects to the previous model except for a number of detail changes including a new extended length all-welded construction chassis (as opposed to the previous rivetted type) and a number of minor changes to the standard steel body style. Automatic transmission, using the G.M. Hydromatic design was initially a factory option and then became standard in late 1954. The standard R-Type produced a lively performance, providing 106mph in silence and 0-50mph in 10 seconds with an unladen weight of 37 cwts. As with all Bentleys, the various coachbuilders of the day provided their own specialist bodywork variations and the beautiful R-Type on offer today is one of the very rare Empress-bodied cars by the highly respected coachbuilding firm of Hooper & Co. The elegant coachwork is rare indeed on the R-Type chassis and the wonderful flowing lines are especially enhanced by this car's original colour scheme of burgundy over sand. This particular example is without doubt one of the finest R-Type Bentleys in existence. It has been the subject of a meticulous and complete mechanical and cosmetic restoration to the highest of standards without any regard to expense. Even upon close inspection the vehicle appears difficult to fault; the paintwork is to the highest standard and the panel fit is superb. All the brightwork has been replated and the interior woodwork is beautifully polished Canadian maple. The original beige leather upholstery is in fine condition and new beige carpets and headlining are fitted. All the instruments are in full working order. Unusually, this Hooper Empress was originally supplied with electric front windows with ivory switches and, as one would expect, these are in full working order. The original radio works well and the car is fitted with a complete original set of tools, electric rear blinds, picnic tables, rear vanity mirrors and rear footrests. As one might expect, this R-Type has a string of concours successes, including the RREC Annual Concours at Castle Ashby in 1991 when it was placed First in Class Twelve and was winner of the Rob Emberson Trophy. In 1994 it was invited to the exclusive Louis Vuitton Concours d'Elegance at the Hurlingham Club in central London and to Bagatelle in Paris. It is testament to the quality of the restoration that when entered into the RREC Annual Concours at Althorp Park in 1995 it again was placed First in Class Twelve and was again the winner of the Emberson Trophy, and was also winner of the Hooper Trophy (awarded to the Best Hooper bodied car). The car has been used for a number of Continental journeys and has, of course, proved to be totally reliable. It was purchased new in 1954 by the vendor's father who kept it until 1967, the current owner managing to re-acquire it for the family in 1988. Included in the sale is a significant file of history, including a number of early documents and invoices, and a set of original (framed) blueprints of the specifications. It is certainly one of the finest post-war Bentleys that Christie's have had the pleasure of offering for sale.
1954 BENTLEY HOOPER EMPRESS R-TYPE SPORTS SALOON Registration No. TBA Chassis No. B 210 WH Engine No. B 105 W Burgundy over sand with beige leather upholstery. Engine: six cylinder in line, overhead valve, twin carburettors, 4,566cc, 150bhp at 4,500rpm; Gearbox: automatic; Brakes: hydraulic front, mechanical rear, servo assisted; Suspension: front wishbones and coil springs, rear, rigid axle with semi elliptic rear springs. Right hand drive. Following the success of the post-war series Bentley Mk VI, which was in production from 1946 to 1952, a revised, updated, four door, four light standard saloon, the R-Type, was launched in June 1952. The 'R' prefix was derived from the fact that the Mk VI series had at that time reached the chassis letter R. The car was very similar in all aspects to the previous model except for a number of detail changes including a new extended length all-welded construction chassis (as opposed to the previous rivetted type) and a number of minor changes to the standard steel body style. Automatic transmission, using the G.M. Hydromatic design was initially a factory option and then became standard in late 1954. The standard R-Type produced a lively performance, providing 106mph in silence and 0-50mph in 10 seconds with an unladen weight of 37 cwts. As with all Bentleys, the various coachbuilders of the day provided their own specialist bodywork variations and the beautiful R-Type on offer today is one of the very rare Empress-bodied cars by the highly respected coachbuilding firm of Hooper & Co. The elegant coachwork is rare indeed on the R-Type chassis and the wonderful flowing lines are especially enhanced by this car's original colour scheme of burgundy over sand. This particular example is without doubt one of the finest R-Type Bentleys in existence. It has been the subject of a meticulous and complete mechanical and cosmetic restoration to the highest of standards without any regard to expense. Even upon close inspection the vehicle appears difficult to fault; the paintwork is to the highest standard and the panel fit is superb. All the brightwork has been replated and the interior woodwork is beautifully polished Canadian maple. The original beige leather upholstery is in fine condition and new beige carpets and headlining are fitted. All the instruments are in full working order. Unusually, this Hooper Empress was originally supplied with electric front windows with ivory switches and, as one would expect, these are in full working order. The original radio works well and the car is fitted with a complete original set of tools, electric rear blinds, picnic tables, rear vanity mirrors and rear footrests. As one might expect, this R-Type has a string of concours successes, including the RREC Annual Concours at Castle Ashby in 1991 when it was placed First in Class Twelve and was winner of the Rob Emberson Trophy. In 1994 it was invited to the exclusive Louis Vuitton Concours d'Elegance at the Hurlingham Club in central London and to Bagatelle in Paris. It is testament to the quality of the restoration that when entered into the RREC Annual Concours at Althorp Park in 1995 it again was placed First in Class Twelve and was again the winner of the Emberson Trophy, and was also winner of the Hooper Trophy (awarded to the Best Hooper bodied car). The car has been used for a number of Continental journeys and has, of course, proved to be totally reliable. It was purchased new in 1954 by the vendor's father who kept it until 1967, the current owner managing to re-acquire it for the family in 1988. Included in the sale is a significant file of history, including a number of early documents and invoices, and a set of original (framed) blueprints of the specifications. It is certainly one of the finest post-war Bentleys that Christie's have had the pleasure of offering for sale.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
