Test Drive - 1954 Bentley R-Type Saloon!

This 1954 Bentley R-Type has been completely restored as needed to be a spectacular touring car that can be proudly displayed at regional car shows. But, most importantly, the present owner made significant investments to ensure that this is the ultimate long distance touring car by thoroughly rebuilding the engine, adding modern air conditioning and power steering. The result is a sporty and terrific handling Bentley that can readily be enjoyed on 5,000-mile tours! This Bentley is as elegant as it is sporty!

HISTORY: B89YA was sold new by the highly regarded dealer Charles Follett of London to a British Corporation in 1954. The Bentley remained under the ownership of the company for 18 years until it was acquired and imported into the US by Paul Woudenberg of Long Beach, CA. Paul Woudenberg was the minister at the First United Methodist Church, Santa Monica, CA where he remained until 1976. Paul Woudenberg was the much-loved Voice of the Pebble Beach Concours for 30 years. Paul was an important presence at the Concours, a charming, wise and witty host.

On November 21, 1972, Paul sold the Bentley to his close friend and neighbor Richard Bell. Richard mentioned to Paul that he was planning to buy a new 1972 Chevy and Paul suggested that Richard buy B89YA for the same amount of money as the Chevy and in 20 years the R-Type Bentley would be worth more. Richard took Paul’s advice and bought B89YA. Richard Bell enjoyed the Bentley for the next 42 years.

The present owner, George Schuetz from Indian Land, SC, acquired B89YA on August 5th, 2014, after having a pre-purchase inspection completed by the renowned Roger Ford. The Bentley had accumulated 61,986 miles from new. Roger Fords inspection resulted in a list of recommended repairs, which were all completed by Ronnies Garage in Santa Ana, CA. Both Roger Ford (deceased) and Ronny Shaver are icons within the RROC.

When Ronny completed the work, George flew to LAX and set off on a 4,600-mile scenic cross-country drive B89YA home. Through much of 2017, George invested $15,000 restoring the upholstery and interior woodwork and about $30,000 to completely and properly rebuild the engine and add the power steering and air conditioning. These improvements transform this Bentley into the ultimate classic tour car!

Since then, George and the Bentley have driven on countless tours, including through Yellowstone National Park and through the Continental Divide at about 8,000-foot elevation. The Bentley has always proven to be a comfortable and dependable motorcar.

CONDIITON: This Bentley was cosmetically restored to its original configuration of Dark Blue with Gray Leather. The Dark Blue livery is in very nice touring condition and is complemented by light blue coach stripes. It has terrific shine and deep luster with light orange peel. There are normal touched up chips in the high use areas which are noticeable upon close inspection. Overall, the paint looks great. er and looks great. The Gray Leather is soft and supple and is in very nice condition. The correct Dark Blue Wilton wool carpeting features gray binding and looks fantastic. The wood on the doors and the top of the dash has all been beautifully refinished. The lower main dashboard is original and shows normal patina. All the gauges and instruments work well, and the stereo has been upgraded to a modern unit.

The engine compartment is where the excitement lies. The venerable 4.6 liter straight six is paired with the four-speed Hydramatic automatic transmission. The engine rebuild included all new parts and the nearly $30,000 receipt is included on our website. The chassis and suspension are agile and very comfortable on its 120-inch wheelbase. The addition of the modern air conditioning and power steering transform the driving experience. Even in temperatures in excess of 100 degrees F, this is a joy to drive. To servo assisted power brakes respond well and provide confidence. The wide white walled radials and seat belts add to the safety of this Bentley.

This Bentley comes complete with over 50 years of documentation, including receipts for its restoration, detailed notes and a small library of service manuals, owner’s manuals and the like.

For more information and details, please call or text Classic Promenade at +1.623.404.9042 or email us at sales@classicpromenade.com. This Bentley is available for inspection at our Phoenix showroom. We are pleased to offer FaceTime or WhatsApp live video inspections and we help coordinate shipping worldwide. We also have financing partners if you are interested in financing.