Meet the Real Bond Car: 1954 Bentley Continental R-Type Fastback — RM Auctions Monaco Preview

As much as we young folks like to think Aston-Martin is the epitome of a Bond car, that was not actually the case the first few times our man slid behind the wheel in Ian Fleming’s novels.

His preferred coach in at least the first few books is the Bentley Continental R-Type, in black, if we’re not mistaken.

Without quoting any of Flemings work (for lack of time, in honesty); the R-Type Fastback Sports Saloon certainly best matches my memories of his first car-of-choice.

For, you see, Commander Bond was a bit of a lout. He was not a wild driver as much as simply a fast driver who did not want any bother on any border crossing.

This car matched his playboy cover better than a true sports car, anyway.

He also was not up for the demanding long-distance ride of the contemporary Lotus Seven’s and the like, which were very choppy at high speeds across continents.

For that relaxed/tense cruise down to Switzerland or Marseilles and back from London, Bond was a Bentley man through and through.

The marque was better-known outside of England in the early 1950s, and the fastest closed-cockpit machine at his disposal.

This Franay-bodied example is one of two made and was the real supercar of the line. With a sloping roof unlike any production cars of the time, it cut a dashing profile at 85-mph-plus; or even stopped for a chat in the shadows.

RM Auctions will sell this beautiful car in Monaco on May 10th of this year, with full details available via the below link.

Very gracious photo credits to RM Auctions, who are storming the European super-lux Capitols left and right this year since a very exciting Paris 2014 auction this February!

Mr. Bond would sneer outside, but beam with pride inside to see his original ride revered — a full 60 years later.