Rolls-Royce versus Bentley

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There are two particularly fine and handsome saloons listed in the RMSotheby's auction on wednesday 7 September and we allowed our imagination to try and choose between them.
The 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom ll Continental has Sedanca de Ville coachwork by Barker and would demand best dress and behaviour every time you took her out. As you left your house, you would engage the leisurely Edwardian pace of life for the entire journey, nothing shall be permitted to ruffle your feathers and remember, the driver's hands are never to be seen above the level of the windscreen.
The 1929 Bentley 6½ Litre is a different kettle of fish. Goodbye Doctor Jekyll and hello Mr. Hyde. That may be a little extreme, after all,  the Bentley has elegant Sedanca de Ville coachwork by Mulliner and this extremely rare and unusually original example has been saved from becoming just another Le Mans clone. But hey - it's still a Bentley with a raucous exhaust and racing pedigree. Climb aboard and let's enjoy the open road!
Both have wonderful driver's dashboards and leather upholstery so how do we decide?
As we battle between the two British saloons, a flirtatious Italian filly appears and we are distracted by the lines of the 1939 Alfa Romeo 6c 2500 with its Sport Cabriolet coachwork by Touring.
The 7.6 Litre Rolls is less than half the estimate of the 6 ½ Litre Bentley whose estimate is half that of the 2.5 Litre Alfa. More capacity - less cash.
Decisions, decisions - we all need our dreams.

Text Robin Batchelor, pictures courtesy RM Sotheby's.

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