1959 Bentley S1 Continental Saloon

Lot details
Registration No: VYW 667
Chassis No: BC30FM
Mot Expiry: April 2004

When Bentley introduced their S1 model in 1956, the virtues were acclaimed by the motoring press who declared: "Offering a degree of safety comfort and performance that is beyond the experience and imagination of the world's motorists which rose as a magic carpet annihilating great distance". The new S1 was certainly a huge improvement on previous models from the Crewe works, providing even greater comfort, elegance, performance and roadholding. Fitted were a 6-cylinders in-line engine of 4887cc capacity with overhead inlet valves and side exhaust and twin SUs, 4-speed Hydramatic transmission, power-assisted steering, independent suspension with coil-springs at the front, semi-elliptic sprung rear axle and drum-brakes all round.
The most desirable addition to the range was the 2-door Continental with its flamboyant and sporting styling, a 120mph luxury supercar, which provided the British firm with a really effective competitor to the best that the Continentals or the Americans could produce. For here, at last, was a truly British Gran Turismo.
The Continental's interior was fitted out in the style to which Bentley afficionados had become accustomed, with sumptuous seats and lashings of the finest Connolly leather, beautifully crafted woodwork with highly polished veneers, and no skimping on top quality accessories and fittings. Above all, the coachwork by H J Mulliner has, in the opinion of many commentators, a landmark design that, even to this day, has never been surpassed.
The superb right-hand drive example offered here was retailed to its first owner through London Bentley agents, Jack Barclays, to a Mr C H Dracoulis, whose company address in Leadenhall Street, EC3, was registered 10 January 1859. The Factory Build Sheets show a change of ownership in 1961 to B P Jenks Esquire of Astbury Hall in Bridgnorth, whom it is believed was a Director of the Fry's Chocolate Company. The car then remained in the West Midlands for many years, one of the most recent family ownerships lasting for some thirty years.
Throughout its life, though, it has been continuously maintained official agents, such as H R Owen, with regular services and MOT Tests, though it spent many years 'garaged' in the well known Midland Motor Museum Collection of Bob Roberts at Bridgnorth. Since then, apart from annual services and tests, the car has only been driven on long journeys to the occasional motoring event. The odometer read approximately 110,000 miles when entered for this sale and this is claimed to be the genuine total mileage since new.
The car has been repainted in maroon with hand-applied coachlining recently, and is described as the vendor as being perfect. The leather upholstery has at some time been 'Connolised' and is still largely original apart from the replacement of a small amount of padding in the driver's seat. The wood trim and paneling is reportedly still bright and well polished, and the carpets have been renewed (with the old ones retained). There is an efficient radio and, to comply with an insurance requirement, an immobiliser has been discreetly located. An original tool kit, which would appear rarely to have been used, is still intact within its original drawer.
On file are 21 old MOTs, right the way back to 1977, whilst the provenance of what is claimed to be a four owner car can be easily followed. According to the vendor, both engine and transmission are in good order, and the car is "a great driver".
Please Note: This vehicle is MOT'd until April 2004.