Bentley R-Type Continental: The 1950s Grand Tourer Built for 100 MPH Cruising

The Bentley R-Type Continental was created around a remarkably ambitious idea for the early 1950s: build a luxurious four-seat automobile capable of sustained high-speed travel across Europe.

Bentley achieved it with lightweight construction, careful aerodynamics and elegant coachwork, most famously by H.J. Mulliner.

The original prototype underwent high-speed testing at Montlhéry near Paris, where Bentley records an average of 118.75 mph over five laps. Production cars were capable of approximately 115 mph and comfortable cruising close to 100 mph.

Only 208 R-Type Continentals were eventually produced. Bentley also notes that all but 15 received H.J. Mulliner bodywork.

Its elongated roofline and fastback rear were not created merely for appearance. Reducing aerodynamic drag was essential for achieving its high cruising speeds with the technology available during the period.

Why did the R-Type Continental change Bentley?

Because it created a template the marque would revisit repeatedly: luxurious interiors combined with effortless long-distance performance.

That philosophy eventually became so important that the Continental name continues to define Bentley’s grand touring identity.

The R-Type Continental therefore connects the world of hand-built post-war coachbuilding directly with the modern high-performance luxury GT.