With all the accolades given to vintage Bentleys, one postwar model – the R-Type Continental Fastback – stands apart as a true masterpiece.

Unveiled at the 1951 Paris and London motor shows, the “Continental Sports Saloon” was hailed as the fastest, true four-seater in the world and the most expensive production car at £4,980. Owners enjoyed a top speed of 120 mph with effortless comfort and unmatched style.

Of the 207 R-Type Continentals built, 192 were bodied by H.J. Mulliner in the now-iconic Fastback style. Based on the prototype affectionately known as “Olga,” the design is a stunning example of custom coachbuilding in the early postwar era. From the raked grille and curved windscreen to the finned rear fenders, the design perfectly captures the Continental’s graceful, high-speed capabilities.

Mulliner collaborated extensively with Bentley’s design team and even consulted Pinin Farina in the early stages. Aerodynamic testing with a quarter-scale clay model helped achieve a drag coefficient of just .388 – better than the Malcolm Sayer-designed Jaguar E-Type. Weight reduction was also central to the design, achieved through Mulliner’s all-aluminum construction using Reynolds alloy. Even the carpets, leather, and “aero-grade” glass were selected for their lightweight properties.

The R-Type Continental’s ideal blend of luxury, performance, and exclusivity attracted elite buyers including aristocrats, industrialists, and sportsmen – among them Aristotle Onassis, Gianni Agnelli, and Briggs Cunningham – cementing its status as the ultimate postwar Bentley.

The R-Type Continental presented here, chassis BC2LC, was sold new to DuPont heir William Kemble Carpenter of Montchanin, Delaware. A true sportsman who enjoyed yachting and competitive sportfishing, Carpenter also had a passion for high-performance automobiles: in addition to this Bentley, he owned several Pinin Farina-bodied Ferraris, including a 500 Mondial, 375 America, and 410 Superamerica.

As noted in The Continental Register, this C-Series car was specified in left-hand drive and delivered with engine no. BCC2, which it retains today. Of the 43 left-hand-drive R-Type Continentals built, BC2LC is notable as one of just 34 originally specified with a manual gearbox, and one of only 11 equipped with the rare left-hand-drive-only column shift.

Completed on March 4, 1953, BC2LC was sent to H.J. Mulliner and fitted with Fastback coachwork, internally designated by design no. 7277. This body, numbered 5564, was originally finished in the seldom-seen combination of Pale Green over gray and green Connolly leather. Factory records show it was outfitted with lightweight seats, Wilmot-Breeden bumpers, twin fog lamps, and an S. Smith and Sons “Radiomobile” radio.

Shipped from London to New York aboard the SS Andria in September 1953, the Bentley did not remain long with Mr. Carpenter. In 1954, it was consigned to Bill Frick Motors in Rockville Centre, New York, and sold that summer to John Hays. By January 1955, it had been acquired by Dr. Samuel L. Scher, the renowned New York plastic surgeon and collector who assembled an extraordinary stable of Rolls-Royce and Bentley motorcars.

In 1963, presumably during the ownership of Harold Kaye, the car returned to England, where it was refurbished by Reall Coachbuilders Ltd. of Slough. Later in the 1960s, it crossed the Atlantic again to join the collection of Irwin E. Friedman, a prominent attorney in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

In 1971, Friedman sold BC2LC to John Seward Johnson II, a well-known sculptor and heir to the Johnson & Johnson fortune. During his long-term ownership, the car was sparingly driven and eventually sold at Christie’s Pebble Beach Auction in 1998. A subsequent owner, Dr. Frank E. Gump, commissioned a complete restoration carried out between 1999 and 2001, finishing it in the elegant burgundy over tan color scheme it wears today. Since 2003, the car has been part of two private East Coast collections, enjoying continued careful use.

Owned by knowledgeable collectors for more than half a century and maintained in good, serviceable condition, this highly regarded R-Type Continental Fastback represents the pinnacle of mid-century luxury motoring. Its beautiful styling, smooth powertrain, and refined road manners create an experience that transcends its peers. As a capable and elegant machine, this Bentley rightly deserves a place in any top-tier collection.