The R-Type was another automobile born in the post-World War II era, with a clear objective: to create a new model that was lightweight, aerodynamic and beautiful, yet capable of carrying up to four adults in comfort at high speeds over long distances.
The standard version featured a 4.6-liter engine producing 130 hp, delivering impressive performance for its time. But there was another, more exclusive variant—the R-Type Continental, distinguished by its sleeker, more streamlined body and larger engine.
Under its long bonnet sat a 4.9-liter six-cylinder engine producing 178 hp, enough to propel the Bentley to a top speed of 190 km/h (118 mph). When introduced in 1953, it was the world’s fastest four-seater, securing its place among the great high-speed grand tourers of the era.
The model also gained lasting cultural fame through its association with James Bond in Ian Fleming’s novels, becoming one of the automobiles most closely identified with the literary version of the legendary British secret agent.
Price: $900,000.
