Topic: Solved - NEH 3655: Bentley R-Type Continental DHC Special by Mulliner - 1954/2005

[Carnut]

What's this, built by whom, when and why - for 1 point?:

ANYONE FOUND GIVING ANSWERS OBTAINED BY USING GOOGLE SEARCH BY IMAGE MAY BE BANNED FOR AN INDETERMINATE PERIOD, AND THIS PUZZLE IS ONLY OPEN TO THOSE WHO HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR AGREEMENT TO THAT IN THE THREAD IN THE NEWS AND INFORMATION SECTION.

[Carnut]

Experts?

[oko94]

1954 Bentley R-Type Continental converted to drophead by Chapron in 1956 after an accident. Modified by Mulliner in 2005.

[Carnut]

1954 Bentley R-Type Continental converted to drophead by Chapron in 1956 after an accident. Modified by Mulliner in 2005.

Yes.  I thought this one would be harder to find as I some trouble locating the pictures' source and the story.
You are right that it was an R-Type Continental which was rebuilt (for its Portuguese owner Antonio de Cavalho) after being rolled, though it was in 1960 rather than 1956.  Mulliner was in fact approached to design a new body as well but only drew the plans, whilst the rebuilding job was given to Chapron.  Apparently the final car didn't really look right: the front and rear looked like they belonged to different cars, so in order to put things right Mulliner modified the car again in 2005 along the lines of their original plans.  I believe the puzzle picture shows the Chapron car as those rear wings don't look at all like a Mulliner style and I can see the mis-match with the front of the car; below is another picture of the car after the 2005 rebuild by Mulliner which supports this view as the rear wings look far more like Mulliner would have designed them.

The story goes that the Chapron car was much admired by Ian Fleming when he saw it on the streets of London after its re-body and it influenced him to have James Bond drive something similar!

[oko94]

I thought this one would be harder to find as I some trouble locating the pictures' source and the story.

I knew it because it was featured in the preview news of the forthcoming Concours of Elegance in Hampton Court, otherwise I would have probably failed to find it as it's fairly obscure indeed.

[Djetset]

Ah ha!  Delighted to see that somebody actually reads my 'Car of the Week' editorial on the Concours of Elegance website, as I wrote the piece on this Bentley! 

As you say Oko, this unusual Bentley will be at the 2014 Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace from 5-7 September, along with some other rare and exceptional cars, many of which have appeared here as AP puzzles, but can rarely be seen in the metal.

I'll be working hard at the Concours, and hopefully a few fellow puzzlers will be visiting the event (?).  The last few remaining tickets are still available!

[oko94]

Well, I totally ignored you were involved in that event : must be a nice job !
I've been to the first two Concours at Windsor and St James, they were really great. This year I've planned to attend the new concours held at Chantilly during the same week-end, so no trip to London this time. Maybe we'll meet next year ?