1953 Bentley R Type H.J.Mulliner Drophead Coupe
As far as we can tell, this car is one of just three built to this elegant and attractive design on the R Type chassis, and one of those was left hand drive, so it really is a desirable rarity. Sharing certain similarities, including the whole frontal aspect, tail design, divided windscreen and general profile, the car could be considered to be a convertible version of the well-known ‘Lightweight Saloon’ created by H.J.Mulliner. In fine, nicely sound and smart condition, appealingly finished in Burgundy with red leather interior, cosmetically mature in a very charming way. The hydraulically operated hood is working well, We have a history file which includes various invoices for work carried out and parts supplied, an ownership record, MoT certificates and more. The car runs and drives nicely, is fitted a new set of very suitable radial tyres, and is offered serviced, prepared and MoT tested. Admired by many!
Chassis No. B73RS.
Reg No. RMA 764.
Price. £65,000.
Snippets: Tractors, Allard & Experimental Aircraft
In 1931 Edward Boydell (1896/1962) took over the firm of Muir-Hill Ltd of Manchester, their products included sprung road wheels & bucket loaders for Fordson tractors, Boydell’s also made dumper trucks, high horse power tractors and other mechanical items. Their railway engines were used in the quarries of Meeth China Clay, Blaenau Ffestiniog Slate, Ravenglass & as far away as New Zealand. In 1959 the company was sold to Winget Ltd of Rochester who moved the factory to Gloucester.
In 1961 Guy Warburton (1902/91), a chemical engineer with the family concern of Harrison Blair & Co took over the ownership of B73RS – Guy was a keen motorist (he raced motor-cycles on Southport Sands) & he was the owner of the first Allard!! In 1952 the team of Sydney Allard, Guy Warburton & Tom Lush won the Monte Carlo Rally in their Allard – the first time a car driven by its namesake had won! After being widowed Guy remarried in 1952 & he and his wife Helen (she was 23 years younger than Guy) later emigrated to Auckland, New Zealand. His descendants are still involved in rallying but this time in Range Rovers!
In the early 1970s B73RS spent some time in the Province of Quebec with D. P. Reid prior to being sold to John Henry Shell of North Carolina – in 2017 whilst piloting his experimental Super Six, N426KS had an engine failure and crash landed the aircraft just outside of Morganton. Fortunately there was no loss of life but a total loss of aircraft.
B73RS was reimported back to the UK in 1989 and was sold to Eddy Shah of the Messenger Newspaper Group with later owners including S. Norbury of Mobberly and noted car collector J. Boland of Eire.