Ian Fleming's Bentley R-Type Found Gathering Dust in LA Garage
A 1953 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback once owned by James Bond creator Ian Fleming has been found gathering dust in a California garage after nearly 40 years. The car, in deep grey with black Connolly leather, was a gift from Fleming to his friend Ivar Felix Bryce.
Although 007 is known to be an Aston Martin man, he used to be one of the Bentley boys. In fact, Bond drove a Bentley Type-R Continental in the book Thunderball.
In its time, the Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback was considered to be in a class of its own, boasting speed, comfort, elegance, and refinement. It was powered by a 4.9-litre iron-block/aluminum-head straight-6 engine, fed by twin SU (Skinners Union) carburettors, which produced 178bhp. In 1953, the Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback was the world's fastest production four-seater car with a top speed of 120mph (193kmph).
The sleek left-hand drive has now been put up for sale for $1,495,000 by Gullwing Motor Cars, a classic car dealer based in New York.
When the Type-R was delivered to Fleming's friend Bryce, it was specially finished with rear fender spats and a racehorse mascot. Fleming lavished thousands of dollars on the car, specifying it with left-hand drive, a manual gearbox, lightweight seats, and fitted luggage designed to perfectly correspond to the car's trunk.
According to Gullwing, the car has retained its original features - even if it's a little dusty - with matching numbers and the original interior.
Read More: Famous James Bond Cars
Bryce was the writer's inspiration for CIA agent Felix Leiter in his Bond books. The US agent was featured six times in the series, starting with Casino Royale and ending with The Man with the Golden Gun.
The Bryces flew their gifted Bentley around the world to their various homes in England, New York, and Vermont. After they sold it, the coupe had several owners but ended up in the hands of a Beverly Hills surgeon in 1978, who, for reasons unknown to us, did not give the classic car the care and attention that it deserved. According to Gullwing, it was sitting completely discarded in a garage in a Hancock Park, Los Angeles almost since the late 1970s.
(Images courtesy: Gullwing Motor Cars)
Related News
Popular Bentley Models
Latest Cars
Upcoming Cars
Latest News
Jaiveer Mehra | Jul 14, 2026Kia Carens, Carens Clavis Cumulative Sales Cross 3 Lakh UnitsMilestone arrives a little over a year after the 2 lakh unit milestone and a little over 4 years after the MPV’s India launch.3 mins read
Jaiveer Mehra | Jul 14, 2026Renault Duster Adventure Edition Launched At Rs 12.99 LakhThe new special edition is positioned between the Evolution and Techno trims and is offered with both the 1.0 Turbo and 1.3 Turbo engine options.1 min read
Bilal Firfiray | Jul 13, 2026Toyota Innova Hycross Facelift Spied For The First TimeIt’s been a good chunk of four years since the Toyota Innova Hycross was launched in India. So, it seems to be a good time to get in a facelift.1 min read
car&bike Team | Jul 13, 2026Hero MotoCorp Flags CAFE Norm Risks for Two-Wheelers Ahead of New Fuel Efficiency RulesHero MotoCorp says the proposed expansion of Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) norms to two-wheelers will improve fuel efficiency but could also bring significant cost and compliance challenges for manufacturers.1 min read
car&bike Team | Jul 13, 2026Hero MotoCorp To Launch New 150-350 cc Premium MotorcyclesTo capitalise on market trends and growth in the sub-350 cc premium motorcycle segment, Hero MotoCorp says it will launch new products under both Hero and Harley-Davidson brands.3 mins read
car&bike Team | Jul 13, 2026Ignyte Launches New Carbon Fibre Series Helmets In India; Prices Start From Rs 14,999New helmet series features a carbon fibre composite shell & kevlar reinforcement and meets ISI & DOT standards.1 min read
Bilal Firfiray | Jul 12, 2026Tata Sierra EV Review: Reborn In The Electric AgeThe Tata Sierra EV isn’t drastically different from its ICE counterpart when it comes to design. But being the seventh electric offering from the Indian brand, it has gotten a few things right, and very few things wrong. But is it a compelling package to buy?5 mins read
Jafar Rizvi | Jul 13, 2026TVS Orbiter Long-Term Review (Report 1): Settling In Takes TimeFirst impressions weren't the strongest, but the Orbiter has made a mark in its first month in the car&bike garage.5 mins read
Seshan Vijayraghvan | Jul 7, 2026Tata Altroz Petrol DCA Long-Term Review: Intercity & Highway Driving ReportWe tested the Tata Altroz Petro DCA’s highway manners, intercity performance, and real-world fuel efficiency.1 min read
Seshan Vijayraghvan | Jun 29, 2026Renault Kiger vs Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor: Which Underdog Deserves Your Money?Both the Kiger and the Taisor promise strong performance, solid features, comfortable cabins and everyday usability, all without breaking the bank. But which of these underrated subcompact SUVs deserves your money? Let's find out.1 min read
Seshan Vijayraghvan | Jun 29, 2026Skoda Kodiaq RS Review: The Best Kodiaq Yet?The Skoda Kodiaq RS is finally here, and it's every bit as exciting as I expected. But was it worth the wait?7 mins read