It’s well known that Ian Fleming wrote most of his James Bond inspired by real events. In fact, the renowned writer himself worked for Britain’s Naval Intelligence Division during the Second World War. His creation has appeared in film twenty-five times, portrayed by seven actors. In other words, he is James Bond. He also was a great Bentley fan.
For the sake of setting facts straight, we should all be aware that the spy he defined so well was, in fact, driving a Bentley throughout his novels. Aston Martin was always the car associated with the screening of Fleming’s James Bond series, but that is not really how the writer saw his hero.
Perhaps this classic, high-performance grand tourer is what proves that James Bond was always intended to drive. And it’s no wonder the British writer thought the one of the all-time great Bentley models was fitting for a spy of the time. After all, the R-Type Continental attracted an elite clientele that included royalty, celebrities, and businessmen.
Ian Fleming ordered this Bentley for his friend and collaborator Ivar Bryce. Bryce was, in fact, the spy that inspired the writer to create Felix Leiter, as he worked for the British Security Coordination during World War II.
As if all these weren’t enough, the vehicle itself is a beauty. Originally finished in Deep Grey and specified as a left-hand drive, manual gearbox car with fender spats and lightweight seats, the R-Type in question was equipped with bespoke features such as fitted luggage and a racehorse mascot.
The vintage collectable was stored for 30 years in a California garage, and will go under the hammer in August, during this year’s Gooding Company Pebble Beach auction.
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