For Sale at Auction: 1953 Bentley Continental in Carmel, California

Chassis No. BC2LC
Engine No. BCC2

Among the most celebrated grand touring automobiles of the postwar era, the Bentley R-Type Continental represented the ultimate expression of speed, luxury, and craftsmanship in the early 1950s. Conceived under the guidance of Chief Project Engineer Ivan Evernden and clothed in H.J. Mulliner's elegant fastback coachwork, the Continental was developed as a high-speed touring car capable of sustained motorway cruising before England first enacted the 70 mph speed limit on 22 December 1965 while offering the refinement expected of the Bentley marque. Lightweight aluminum body construction and meticulous aerodynamic development resulted in one of the fastest four-seat production automobiles of its day.

Completed in March 1953, chassis number BC2LC is an exceptionally early and highly desirable C-Series example. The chassis was delivered to Rolls-Royce's Lillie Hall facility on 4 March 1953 before being invoiced on 30 July through renowned New York distributor J.S. Inskip. Finished in Pale Green over a Grey-Green leather interior, the Continental was specified with a number of special features intended for the American market, including sealed-beam headlamps, dual fog lamps in place of the standard center lamp, a scuttle-mounted aerial, dash-mounted heater, flat-type fuel tank, and U.S.-market signaling equipment. Shipped aboard the SS Andria, the Bentley arrived in New York on 13 September 1953 and was delivered shortly thereafter to its first owner, William Kemble Carpenter of Montchanin, Delaware, heir to the Du Pont family fortune and a noted yachtsman and sport-fishing champion.

Beyond its elegant coachwork and fascinating provenance, BC2LC occupies a particularly exclusive place within R-Type Continental production. Its left-hand drive configuration makes it one of just 43 examples so configured and more significantly, it is one of only 11 manual transmission R-Type Continentals equipped with the rare column-mounted gear selector developed exclusively for left-hand-drive cars." These unusual factory specifications distinguish BC2LC as one of the most uncommon and technically interesting Continentals produced during the model's celebrated run.

Accompanying documentation, including a copy of the original build sheet and records compiled by The Continental Register, confirms that BC2LC retains its original engine, numbered BCC2, while chronicling a remarkable chain of ownership spanning more than seven decades. The Bentley's subsequent custodians read as a roster of prominent American collectors and enthusiasts.

During the summer of 1954 it passed to John Hays before being acquired by pioneering plastic surgeon and former Rolls-Royce Owners' Club President Dr. Samuel L. Scher in January 1955 while residing on New York City's illustrious Park Avenue. In 1963, The Continental Register notes that the car received replacement seats sourced from a Mercedes-Benz trimmed in green MB-Tex. Ownership later passed to prominent Bridgeport attorney Irwin E. Friedman in 1969, followed by noted American sculptor and Johnson & Johnson heir J. Seward Johnson Jr. in 1971.

Subsequent caretakers included Dr. Mark Clark and renowned cardiac surgeon Dr. Frank E. Gump of New York City's Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. Under Dr. Gump's stewardship, the Bentley benefited from a comprehensive three-year restoration completed between 1999 and 2001, as recorded by The Continental Register. In 2003, the car entered the collection of businessman, philanthropist, and Estee Lauder heir Ronald Lauder, where it remained for more than two decades. During this period, the Bentley was returned to a more correct specification with the installation of proper Continental lightweight seats, reversing earlier alterations and enhancing its authenticity.

Today, BC2LC stands among the most intriguing examples of Bentley's legendary R-Type Continental. With its exceedingly rare left-hand-drive column-shift configuration, distinguished chain of ownership, well-documented history, and retaining its original matching-numbers engine, this Continental represents a compelling opportunity to acquire one of the most exclusive and desirable postwar Bentleys ever produced.