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372The property of Ron Moody1961 Bentley Continental Drophead CoupéCoachwork by Park Ward LtdRegistration no. 301 HYTChassis no. BC6CZEngine no. C6BCDescribed by The Autocar as, ‘A new stage in the evolution of thepost-war Bentley,’ the magnificent Continental sports saloon has beensynonymous with effortless high speed cruising in the grand mannersince its introduction on the R-Type chassis in 1952. With the arrival in1955 of the final generation of six-cylinder cars, the all-new Silver Cloudand Bentley S-Type, the Continental lost some of its individuality butnone of its exclusivity.Dependable though it had proved, Rolls-Royce’s six-cylinder engine wasnearing the end of its development. At the same time the company wasfacing increased competition from faster rivals in the vital United Statesmarket, and it was, principally, these two factors that prompted theswitch to V8 power as the 1960s approached.Ron Moody as Fagin in the 1967 film musical ‘Oliver!’298 | Goodwood festival of speed