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| Bentley R-Type |
Bentley R-Type(1951-55)
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| Citroen Light Fifteen |
Bentley's R-Type models are often considered to be the ultimate post-war Bentleys, as they were still distinct from the contemporary Rolls-Royce models (Bentley had been taken over by Rolls-Royce in 1931). The R-Type models - saloon and two-door Continental, with bodywork usually by H.J. Mulliner - replaced the Mark VII models, and had a 4566cc engine developing plenty of eminently civilised power. Even today, pan-continental trips in an R-Type make sense, and several are in use as everyday cars. Very much of their time, though more advanced than the Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith and Silver Dawn which were closer to their pre-war equivalents, the R-Type models were superseded by the S-Series in 1955, and an era came to a close.
Citroen Light Fifteen(1935-57)
Better known as the "Traction Avant", for its front-wheel drive layout - relatively revolutionary in 1937, when the car was first produced - the Light Fifteen was also produced in England at Citroen's Slough factory in the '50s, thus getting around import restrictions. Very modern in its time, the Light Fifteen still feels more advanced than most other '50s cars today, despite its column-shift gear change, three-speed gearbox and a very '30s ambience to its cabin. It can cruise happily at 70 mph, thanks to its torquey 1911cc four-cylinder engine, and is also very roomy, especially in long-wheelbase "Big Fifteen" or booted Commerciale form - so much so, that it made the larger 6/6H "Six-Cylinder" - the Inspector Maigret car - seem unnecessary. The Traction Avant gave way to the equally revolutionary DS19, but over 13,500 were produced post-WWII, and it effectively introduced motorists to the concept of front-wheel drive - a notion to be taken on board more enthusiastically with the launch of the 2CV, which went also into production in Slough in 1954.
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