1954 Bentley R Type Automatic H.J.Mulliner ‘Lightweight’ Sports Saloon

A sound and smart example of the characterful H.J.Mulliner design, which was in many ways ahead of its time, having an appearance more akin to the late fifties, yet with features such as the divided front screen, reminiscent of a slightly earlier period, giving the car a delightful quirkiness! Structurally good, cosmetically smart and mechanically good, running and driving nicely. Finished in an unusual and attractive deep shade of blueish green, with very appealing, original brown leather interior, and nice matching carpets (in the boot too), and very good headlining. Plenty of interior woodwork, which features elegant crossbanding veneers. Driving very well, fitted with flashing indicators (important in modern traffic conditions), Michelin radial tyres, and offered MoT tested until February 2025.

Price £ 32,500

Snippets: Lime Sand Mortar & Thomas Tilling

The first owner of B22WH was Colin Percival Clarke (1911/88) who alongside Sir Albert Braithwaite and Vernon Wilson became a director of Lime-Sand Mortar Co which was formed in 1939 by Richard Ollendorf & Dr. Ernst Schweitzer. These gentlemen were forced to sell their German companies (Lime and cement) by Nazi decree and as a result emigrated together with their families and set up a ready-mix plant in the UK. The Home Office offered them the option of settling in Wales or on the North East coast which they chose due to the suitable sand. The team of Clarke, Braithwaite & Wilson owed Burnhills Sand & Gravel Company and they leased land to Ollendorf & Schweitzer for their plant. In 1942 the German firm was absorbed by Burnhills & traded under the name of A. Braithwaite & Co Ltd. Many years later the firm is now part of the Thomas Tilling Group which during the 1970s had 70 ready mixed concrete plants in the UK plus others in Europe and South Africa. The Tilling Group can be traced back to 1846 when he started offering a horse bus service, by 1856 this had expanded to bus and general carriage work and in 1860 he supplied and trained horses to haul fire engines in the Peckham area! In 1904 they had 3 Milnes-Daimler 24hp buses and in 1905 they had 20 buses and some 7,000 horses! The 2nd owner of B22WH was John Buckle whose family had interests in dyeworks in Bradford