1953 Bentley R-Type

1953 Bentley R-Type in Mission: Impossible, TV Series, 1966-1973 Ep. 3.01

Class: Cars, Sedan — Model origin:

Minor action vehicle or used in only a short scene

Author	Message
atom ◊ 2008-06-18 14:51
DynaMike ◊ 2008-06-18 15:07	Most probably a 1952+ Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn.
johnfromstaffs ◊ 2008-06-19 09:49	The Dawn started production in 1949, 760 (or 761 depending upon the source) in total were made up to 1955 with changes in line with the MkVI and R-type Bentleys, except for the carburettors which were single Stromberg then Zenith on the Royce, and twin SUs on the Bentley except for the left hand drive MkVI. The Bentley started production in 1946 and 7521 in total were made up to 1955. However most Dawns were left hand drive with steering column gearchange and from 1953 with slush pump gearboxes to suit the American market. The design of the seats indicates later rather than earlier, but there is, IMHO, no evidence in either photograph to say whether this is a Bentley or a Royce, so we are left with circumstantial evidence which might not satisfy Perry Mason. Unusually for an American TV series, the car would have been quite old and obsolete when the programme was made. The internal driving mirror appears to be set to allow Peter Graves to see the person in the back seat and not the traffic through the rear window. -- Last edit: 2008-06-19 10:26:58
Zophos1979 ◊ 2008-06-24 13:46	Actually the shape of the bonnet (being slightly roundish would suggest Bentley as the Rolls-Royce bonnet tends to have a hard fold to compliment the square lines of the temple, rather than the roundis radiatorgrille you see on Betleys)