Bentley R-type Continental Coupé by Franay Chassis BC9 LE (2x)
Bentley R-type Continental Coupé by Franay Chassis BC 21 D
Bentley R-type Continental Coupé by Franay Chassis BC 51 LC

More pics...

And here is the gallery: http://www.coachbuild.com/index.php?opt ... temId=7637

Re: Bentley R-type Continental Coupé by Franay Chassis BC 51 LC
Actually this is only part Franay. The reason it looks so very much like the H.J.Mulliner variant is that Mulliner panels, lightweight bucket seats and bumpers were shipped 16 December 1953 with the chassis for Franay to constructed as a coachwork. The result seems somehow more straightlaced than the Mulliner creation, which was difficult to improve upon anyway. A beauty nonetheless.
Central manual gearchange. Always black. Originally apparently green hide, but that seems to have been replaced or coloured. Original owner was VandenDriessche et Fils, and delivered 20.05.1954. To the USA in 1965. Original registration 446 BS 02 (Aisne, France)

Bentley R-type Continental Coupé by Franay Chassis BC 20 D
For this car the same procedure was followed as with the first car, though for some reason this was a right hand drive chassis, with manual gearchange, so between the seat and the door. This may have been because the central floorchange was less than satifying to operated, and the manual column gearchange was not appreciated by many customers. Perhaps the car was expected to be sold in the UK off the Paris Salon stand. It was very similar to the first car, arrived in Boulogne in July 1954, and was completed by Franay in time for the Salon in October in French Grey with wide whitewall tyres and cream interior. Delivered to Bruno Emery in November 1954, registered 89 EX 78 (Les Yvelines, France). In the UK by 1965 with registration V59, it went through a number of owners until 1969, was re-registered again, and has been with the same owner since 1969 and is rarely seen.

Re: BC 21 D
This chassis arrived three days before BC 20 D in Boulogne, with seats and bumpers but without body parts as the whole of the body was created by Franay. It all took a bit longer, and was only finished in January 1955, in grey, with teal coloured hide, and again right hand drive, manual gearbox. It was supplied to Charles Perroud, with registration 2164AK69 (Rhone, France), who kept the car until 1960, when it was resold in France. In the UK by 1964, and with a succession of owners. The present owner had a major restoration carried out upon acquisition in 1995. The interior is now grey.

BC 66 LD 1955 R-type Continental Coupé. This car was again according to the H.J.Mulliner concept like the two first cars, and delivered to the Marquis de Vivier on registration 8032 DV 75 (Paris, France). Left hand drive, automatic gearbox. Colour unknown as are its present whereabouts. (It was resold twice by the importer, latterly in 1965) No known pics either...

Re:Chassis BC9 LE Bentley R-type Continental Coupé by Franay
More akin to BC21D, but with a longer boot, more chrome and small fins on the rear, perhaps just a bit better looking, this was the last R-type Continental chassis made, left hand drive, automatic gearbox, 4.9 litre engine. It was started by Franay, but completed by Chapron. In May 1955, finished in Silver Grey with Maroon hide, for M. Choumert in Paris. Resold twice in France , then to the USA, now in Black with beige hide with a European owner.

BC9LE: on the Paris Salon