In the early 1950s, there was no other automobile quite like it in the world, which made it attractive for connoisseur heads of state, captains of industry, as well as the burgeoning jet set.

James Bond drove a version he had Mulliner re-body from a wreck in the 1961 novel Thunderball.

Famously, in the words of Autocar magazine, it was ‘a modern magic carpet’.

In the words of modern BDC members: ‘Best car I have ever owned.’ ‘Hope to take it to Heaven with me!’ ‘Would not swap it for a thousand camels, even in the middle of the desert.’ It was the fastest four-seat production car in the world – and the most expensive – cementing its exclusivity with only 207 made.

The example offered here, a well-developed ‘D’ series model of 1955, was delivered new with the most desirable features of the model, including the largest and most powerful 4.9-litre engine, manual gearbox and lightweight seats.

As noted in the Bentley R-Type Continental Register, it was first allocated to London dealer...