1954 Bentley R Type James Young

1954 Bentley R-Type James Young sedan in a two-tone finish, originally sold by Jack Barclay in Mayfair to the Sanderson Wallpaper Company. The chassis came from Crewe and the bespoke aluminium body was coachbuilt by James Young of Bromley. It’s one of only six James Young R-Types and one of just two fitted with the manual gearbox. This car has been through an interesting life — twenty years in Virginia, a period in Manhattan with Gullwing Motors, then owned by a noted car designer before coming to our family. We began a bare-metal restoration ten years ago and had the engine rebuilt last year by an experienced Bentley engineer. The result is a smooth, quiet powerplant that’s surprisingly willing on the road, and the handling is very good for a large car. What sets it apart is the James Young bodywork, which reads more like an early S1 than the earlier ’40s R-Type shapes, and of course the two-tone paint that people always comment on. It’s a car that starts conversations wherever it goes — a drive I’ll never forget was from Devon through the Cotswolds up to Blenheim Palace and Salon Privé, arriving on that long tree-lined drive for a proper garden party. Open to bookings for shows, classic tours, and private events. Send a request and we’ll talk details and insurance requirements.