A 61-year-old 'modern magic carpet'

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When it first arrives in our showroom, it takes me some time to approach it. I first admire its gracious lines from a distance... how can such a large and majestic car look so elegant? Then I come closer, slowly, as if I want to show respect to what is generally considered as the most iconic post-war Bentley: the R Type Continental Sports Saloon by H.J. Mulliner.

I gently open the door, close my eyes and inhale that typical 'old saloon' perfume: history, blended with years of perfect maintenance, and a hint of driving pleasure from the previous owners. Then I sit down in the charmingly patinated lightweight bucket seats, and it feels like putting on my favourite pair of shoes: comfortable, supportive, familiar, and... ready to hit the road and explore the world!

A turn of the ignition switch and a push on the starter button bring the 4.9 litre 6-cylinder engine to life. This is it! I'm going to drive an icon! And it weighs 27 times as mush as me!

I take my courage in both hands. I engage the automatic gearbox, let go of the brake pedal and cautiously put my toe on the throttle... and immediately, the idea that I'm driving a huge and heavy car vanishes! It's fascinating how Bentley's engineers managed to make sumptuous luxury rhyme with swiftness and agility.

The powerful engine allows you to glide in full silence, while at the same time leaving enough capacity to overtake modern traffic. The automatic gearbox is also an excellent compromise for the manual gearbox aficionado: it allows you to shift up and down when you feel the timing's perfect, so it doesn't harm the sportive character of the car whatsoever. The steering and road handling's an absolute dream: it almost feels as light as the '56 Giulietta that I was driving only the day before.

No wonder this was the '50s elite's weapon of choice for long-distance touring!

It's only when I arrive back at the garage and I have to manoeuvre the car into a narrow garage that I realise its size again!

In 1952, Autocar Magazine called the R-Type Continental a "modern magic carpet". Over half a century later, this elegant old lady can still claim that title!

Words and Pictures: Vincent Mahy, Marreyt Classics 

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