For sale

1954Bentley R Type

A sound & smart example of the characterful H.J. Mulliner design, which was in many ways ahead of its time, having an appearance more akin to the late fifties, yet with features such as the divided front screen, reminiscent of a slightly earlier period, giving the car a delightful quirkiness! Structurally good, cosmetically smart and mechanically good, running and driving nicely. Finished in an unusual and attractive deep shade of blueish green, with very appealing, original brown leather interior, and nice matching carpets (in the boot too), and very good headlining. Plenty of interior woodwork, which features elegant crossbanding veneers. Driving very well, fitted with flashing indicators (important in modern traffic conditions), and offered MoT tested until February 2025. 

Chassis No. B22WH                                      Reg No. UXG 253             

 Snippets: Lime Sand Mortar Co & Thomas Tilling Co

The first owner of B22WH was Colin Percival Clarke (1911/88) who alongside Sir Albert Braithwaite and Vernon Wilson became a director of Lime-Sand Mortar Co which was formed in 1939 by Richard Ollendorf & Dr. Ernst Schweitzer.  These two gentlemen were forced to sell their German companies (Lime & cement) by Nazi decree and as a result they emigrated together with their families and set up a new ready-mix plant in the UK.  The Home Office offered them the option of settling in Wales or on the North East coast which they chose due to the suitable sand in the area for their product.  The team of Clarke, Braithwaite & Wilson owed Burnhills Sand & Gravel Company and they leased land to Ollendorf & Schweitzer for their concrete plant.  In 1942 the German firm was absorbed by Burnhills & traded under the name of A. Braithwaite & Co Ltd.  Many years later the firm has become part of the Thomas Tilling Group which during the 1970s had 70 ready mixed concrete plants in the UK plus others in Europe & South Africa.  The start of the Tilling Group can be traced back to 1846 when Mr Tilling offered a” horse bus service”, by 1856 this had expanded to include general carriage work and in 1860 he supplied & trained horses to haul fire engines in the Peckham area! In 1904 the company had 3 Milnes-Daimler 24hp buses and a year later this had increased to 20 buses and a stable of some 7,000 horses!