1954 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback

To describe this magnificent Bentley R-type Continental, it is difficult to improve upon the typically perceptive and balanced analysis that George Daniels himself wrote of the car for his autobiography All in Good Time — Reflections of a Watchmaker, published in 2000:

“The ease with which the Continental will cover vast distances without discomfort to its occupants is now legendary. It is silent, smooth and spaciously comfortable. At the cool, thin-rimmed steering wheel, one looks along a long, slender bonnet reaching proudly into the distance. The controls are beautifully weighted so that one can sense the road and the car’s response to changes in surface and conditions. And, of course, it is very beautiful to behold.”

This car was ordered originally by the Taylor Woodrow construction company for founder Frank Taylor, finished in blue/gray (today, the car’s color looks very much like a Royal Air Force blue) with matching pale-blue interior with the desirable option of lightweight seats. It was first registered to Taylor Woodrow on March 12, 1954, with 5% discount on the price for being “frequent clients” of Rolls-Royce Ltd.