Makes › Bentley › R-Type › R-Type Continental (H.J. Mulliner fastback) · Coachbuilt · 1952–1955 Extremely Rare
Bentley
R-Type Continental (H.J. Mulliner fastback)
Bentley chassis with H.J. Mulliner fastback coupé body; the world's fastest four-seater of its day. Rare: the Continental, not the R-Type saloon
Still being researched: full specifications. Everything shown is checked against the cited sources. Know more? Send us a source.
Photo: Sicnag · CC BY 2.0
Contents
01Overview
At a glance
- Built
- 208 Built
- Years
- 1952–1955
- Engine
- Inline six-cylinder · 4,566 cc / 4.6 LFactory: 4,566 cc
- Power
- 114 kW / 155 PSFactory: 153 hp · converted
- Top speed
- 185 km/hFactory: 115 mph · converted
- Body
- H.J. Mulliner
- Designer
- John Blatchley (Chief Stylist) and Ivan Evernden (Chief Projects Engineer)
- In this archive
- Not yet verified
- Surviving
- Not yet verified
Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.
Why it matters
The R-Type Continental was presented as the fastest four-seat luxury car in the world, combining a tuned Bentley six with a lightweight, aerodynamic H.J. Mulliner fastback body. Its shape drew on pre-war streamlined specials and remains a reference point for Bentley designers.
How rare is it?
Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.
Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.
Photos
Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.
Bentley R-Type Continental (H.J. Mulliner fastback) (Wikimedia Commons: Bentley R-Type Continental)
Photo: Sicnag · CC BY 2.0
Bentley R-Type Continental (H.J. Mulliner fastback) (Wikimedia Commons: Bentley R-Type Continental)
Photo: MrWalkr · CC BY-SA 4.0
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02Production & history
Production
Every figure says what it counts.
| What is counted | Figure | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total model productionR-Type Continentals built in total, of which 193 bodied by H.J. Mulliner | 2081,2 | Factory production | Factory reported |
Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.
History
Developed by Ivan Evernden and stylist John Blatchley, the Continental followed the pre-war 'Embiricos' Bentley and Corniche in exploring aerodynamics. The prototype 'Olga' averaged 118.75 mph over five laps at Montlhéry. Production cars were delivered from June 1952 until 1955; of 208 built, H.J. Mulliner bodied 193, using aluminium panels and light frames to save weight, while Park Ward, Franay, Graber and Farina bodied the rest.
Variants
How each version differs from the standard R-Type Continental (H.J. Mulliner fastback).
No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
03Specifications
Technical specifications
Engine
| Engine family | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Engine code | Not yet verified |
| Layout | Inline six-cylinder3 |
| Displacement | 4,566 cc / 4.6 LFactory: 4,566 cc3 |
| Bore | Not yet verified |
| Stroke | Not yet verified |
| Compression ratio | Not yet verified |
| Fuel system | Not yet verified |
| Power | 114 kW / 155 PSFactory: 153 hp · converted3Source states bhp. |
| Power at | 4,000 rpm3 |
| Torque | Not yet verified |
Transmission & drivetrain
| Gearbox | 4-speed close-ratio manual3 |
|---|---|
| Gears | Not yet verified |
| Driven wheels | Rear3 |
Chassis, body & dimensions
| Chassis | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Front suspension | Not yet verified |
| Rear suspension | Not yet verified |
| Brakes | Not yet verified |
| Steering | Not yet verified |
| Body construction | Not yet verified |
| Wheelbase | Not yet verified |
| Length | Not yet verified |
| Width | Not yet verified |
| Height | Not yet verified |
| Front track | Not yet verified |
| Rear track | Not yet verified |
| Kerb weight | Not yet verified |
| Dry weight | Not yet verified |
Performance
| Maximum speed | 185 km/hFactory: 115 mph · converted3 |
|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | Not yet verified |
| Fuel tank | Not yet verified |
“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.
04Colours & options
Factory colours & interiors
Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Factory options & codes
Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
05Individual cars
Chassis register
Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Competition history
Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Auction & sale history
Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
See one in person
Museums where an example of this car can be seen.
No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
06Reference
Identification guide
How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.
H.J. Mulliner Continentals have aluminium bodywork, window frames, windscreen surround, backlight, seat frames and bumpers made for lightness; other coachbuilders (Park Ward, Franay, Graber, Farina) bodied only 15 of the 208 chassis.
Sources
Each number links to the exact facts it supports.
-
1
Bentley history: Cricklewood, then Derby and for the last 60 years at Crewe Level A Bentley Motors Press Office (bentleymedia.com), via Wayback Machine · 2006
- Just 208 were built from 1952 to 1954.
-
2
Bentley Media – Heritage Collection: 1953 R Type Continental JAS 949 Level A
- 208 R-Type Continentals built in total, of which 193 bodied by H.J. Mulliner
-
3
1953 R-Type Continental – JAS 949 Level A Bentley Motors (Heritage Collection)
- 4,566 cc inline six
- 153 bhp (114 kW) at 4,000 rpm
- 153 bhp at 4,000 rpm
- 4-speed close-ratio manual gearbox
- Rear-wheel drive
- Top speed 115 mph
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