Rare Bentley R Type Continental Fastback at auction

A 1954 Bentley R Type Continental Fastback - one of just three right-hand drive automatic examples produced – could make £900,000 when it goes under the hammer in November.

The late D-series car, which carries an estimate of between £800,000 and £900,000, is one of the lots at Silverstone Auctions' sale at the NEC classic motor show on the weekend of 15-16 November.

Chassis number BC9D has been given plenty of TLC over the past few years and is presented in good condition. Ordered on 31 March, 1954, by Alan G Clark, it has an unusual specification.

As well as the automatic gearbox, the car got electric window lifts, flat petrol tank, Smiths ventilation and heating system and two RF8187 fog lamps in place of the standard centre lamp. Being a later D-series car, it also has the larger 4.9-litre engine.

Like many of these Bentley models, the chassis was produced at the Rolls-Royce factory in Crewe while the lightweight, aluminium coachwork was handcrafted by H. J. Mulliner & Co some 170 miles to the south.

As well as coming with a packed history file, the car has been recently resprayed in Shell Grey and comes with blue hide interior and dark Wilton carpets.