During a recent Barons’ Sandown Park saleroom bids were flying around, when an extremely rare 1954 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback ‘barn find’ restoration project went under the hammer.
The car was estimated to attract £200,000-£400,000, but the interest was high and was finally secured by its new owner for £739,212.
This was the highest price Barons has ever achieved for a car.
It is good to hear that the car went to a British owner, who will be adding this rare Bentley to his private collection.
When restored the car could be worth over £1,000,000.
Chassis BC52C was commissioned in 1954 by the Welsh racing driver R D Weatherall and was originally painted in his racing colour, Royal Purple. Next owner, a doctor from Yorkshire, had the car re-sprayed in white, the colour it retains to this day. However the car still bears the original registration number RDW 536.
Barons’ director Tony Cavell said, “This was an absolutely fantastic result. A ‘lost’ car always attracts collectors’ attention, and when it’s such a rare, iconic and valuable machine, that interest can lead to a frenetic bidding battle such as we saw yesterday. It will be fascinating to see the ‘journey’ the Bentley now takes, as its restoration commences.”
Other strong sales included a beautiful 1934 Rolls-Royce 20/25, which changed owners for just under £41,000, and a stately Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III, which sold for £23,500.
