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LOT 75 *N

1954 Bentley R-Type 4½-Litre Saloon Registration no. Not UK registered Chassis no. B292YD

Sold for £10,687.50 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve
Lot 75*,N

1954 Bentley R-Type 4½-Litre Saloon
Registration no. Not UK registered Chassis no. B292YD

1954 Bentley R-Type 4½-Litre Saloon
Registration no. Not UK registered
Chassis no. B292YD

*Automatic transmission
*Right hand drive
*Present ownership since 2011
*Acquired in the USA


The rationalisation policy begun in the late 1930s continued at Rolls-Royce after the war with the introduction of standard bodywork. The new 'standard steel' body was available at first only on the Bentley MkVI, the equivalent Rolls-Royce - the Silver Dawn - not appearing until 1949. A separate chassis was retained and the range featured a new design of independent front suspension, hydraulic front brakes, and a new 4,257cc, six-cylinder, 'F-head' (inlet-over-exhaust) engine, the latter enlarged to 4,566cc in 1951. In 1952 a much needed improvement to the standard bodywork arrived in the form of an enlarged boot together with alterations to the rear wings and suspension, subsequent models incorporating these changes being known as the R-Type Bentley and E-Series Silver Dawn.

Chassis number 'B292YD' was manufactured in 1954 and has the Rolls-Royce/General Motors Hydramatic four-speed automatic transmission that had recently become available as an option (and would be standardised on the successor Bentley S1). Little is known of this car's history and the documentation on file consists of the original State of New Jersey Certificate of Title and bill of sale when the vendor purchased it from Sports & Specialist Cars of Hopewell, New Jersey in October 2011. Having been stored for the intervening period, the car may require some re-commissioning prior to road use. Subsequently exported, the Bentley is subject to the low import duty rate of 5% should it remain in the UK.

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*Import low rate
Subject to import tax at a preferential rate on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.
NNOVA declaration
If purchased by a UK resident, this machine is subject to a NOVA declaration, whilst the responsibility of submitting the NOVA rests with the Buyer to do so, Bonhams will facilitate the process by engaging an agent (CARS) to undertake the NOVA on the Buyer's behalf. A fee of £350 + VAT to do so will be added to the Buyer's invoice.

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