Bentley R type DHC by Graber 1952
General description :
Vintage and Prestige are proud to offer this 1952 Bentley R-Type DHC by Graber for sale.
This unique Bentley was first bought by Professor Rudolf Geigy, biologist, zoologist, geneticist amnd CEO of the Swiss Pharmaceutical company, CIBA-GEIGY. He ordered an R-Type chassis from Rolls-Royce and Bentley at Derby, and had it delivered to Swiss coachbuilders Graber in Wichtracg, where he asked Hermann Graber to design and build a drophead coupé for himself as a 50thbirthday present.
Graber founded in the 1920’s, had a fine reputation of building bodies for British cars, including Alvis, Lagonda, Aston Martin, Rolls-Royce and Rover, and was famed for its beautiful, perfectly balanced and rather restrained lines. On chassis B89RS Hermann Graber styled a typically graceful and individual car, with a straight-through wing line, rear quarter lights, and the large soft-top very well harmonised with the boot lines.
Underneath, the Bentley R Type chassis and drivetrain was very like that of the Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn: power came from the well proven straight-six with inlet-over-exhaust valves, but with twin SU carburettors rather than the single one fitted to the Silver Dawn, it produced and estimated 130bhp, enough for lively performance up to around 100mph.
The front suspension was independent with wishbones and coil springs, and there was a live axle with leaf springs at the rear. The drum brakes were servo-assisted. The main difference with the preceding model was the longer chassis which allowed more luggage space and gave scope for come beautiful bodywork to be added. Standard steel factory bodies were available, but many chassis were sent to coachbuilders.
Professor Geigy kept the car for a decade before it went to an owner in Germany, and it later travelled to Hong Kong. In recent years the car was sent back to Austria, to Zweimüller near Linz, for a complete, nut and bolt restoration, and since then the car has only sparingly been used on dry days.
Today the car is in absolute concours condition, which was proven by it’s recent entry into the 2018 Concours of Elegance 2018 at Hampton court Palace.
In our showroom and ready for viewing
Richard Biddulph 07967 260673Christoff Cowens 07772188037
We accept Credit/Debit Cards.Part Exchange welcome.Weekend & evening viewings OK.Viewings by appointment :
Prestige House.9 Globe Industrial Estate,Grays, Essex, RM17 6ST
http://www.vintagerollsroycecars.com/sales/1619/1952-bentley-r-type-dhc-by-graber/
1952 Bentley R type DHC by Graber is listed sold on ClassicDigest in Grays by Vintage Prestige for Not priced.
Car Facts
Car type : Car Make : Bentley Model : R type Model Version : DHC by Graber Engine size : 0.0 Model Year : 1952 Sub type : Convertible Location : Essex
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About Bentley
Before becoming a mere subsidiary to Rolls-Royce, Bentley was an independent Automaker famous for the "fastest lorries in the world" e.i Bentley 4½ Litre.Good ol' Bentley boys (A group of wealthy British motorists, mainly Woolf Barnato, Sir Henry "Tim" Birkin, steeplechaser George Duller, aviator Glen Kidston, S.C.H. "Sammy" Davis, and Dr Dudley Benjafield ) -in their trusty Bentley cars- took four consecutive victories at 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1924, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930
In 1931 Bentley was taken over British Central Equitable Trust that later proved to be a front for Rolls-Royce Limited. Unhappy with his role at Rolls-Royce, W.O. Bentley left the company when his contract expired in 1935 duly joining Lagonda. This was beginning of which ultimately led Bentley cars to become more or less badge-engineered Rolls-Royce.