Lot 109: 1962 Bentley S3 Continental �Flying Spur� Saloon

This Bentley S3 Continental features the elegant, H J Mulliner-designed, �Flying Spur� four-door coachwork, and is one of only 18 completed in this style with left-hand drive.

Eulogising about Bentley�s new �S�-series cars, introduced in April 1955, The Autocar wrote, �the latest Bentley model offers a degree of safety, comfort and performance that is beyond the experience and perhaps even the imagination of the majority of the world�s motorists.� Later, in October that same year, the Bentley Continental became available on the �S� chassis, the model having been synonymous with effortless high speed cruising in the grand manner since its introduction in R-Type form in 1952.

Rolls-Royce had envisaged the Bentley Continental as exclusively a two-door car, but late in 1957 the decision was taken to sanction the production of a four-door variation by H J Mulliner. Introduced on the S1 Continental and known as the �Flying Spur�, this design was a collaborative effort by Rolls-Royce�s in-house styling department and H J Mulliner, and bore a strong resemblance both to the two-door Continental and to existing coachbuilt four-door styles on Rolls-Royce and (non-Continental) Bentley chassis. To the Continental�s existing qualities of pace and elegance, the Flying Spur added four-door practicality, a more spacious interior and generously proportioned boot. The Flying Spur body style continued on the V8-engined S2 Continental and was revised to incorporate the S3�s four-headlamp front end following the latter�s introduction in 1962.

Bentley Continental Flying Spur chassis number �BC44LXA� was sold new in California, USA to its first owner, a Mrs Busch. In 1989 the UK-based dealer Peter Fisher Classic Automobiles sold the car to a Swedish customer for a price that reflected its status as arguably the finest, unrestored, left-hand drive Continental S3 in existence. Its Swedish owner maintained the Continental regardless of cost in both Sweden and the UK where it was looked after by renowned marque specialists, P & A Wood, whose last invoice (at 68,257kms) was for �11,803. The car was bought by GTC Marseille (Jean Guikas) from the Swedish owner on 21st December 2001 at 68,262 kilometres. A new exhaust system has been installed and all five tyres changed at 68,365 kilometres. To date the Continental has covered a mere 69,481 kilometres and remains in quite fabulous, original and unrestored condition.




La Bentley Continental Flying Spur ch�ssis n� BC44LXA fut vendue neuve en Californie � son premier propri�taire, Mme Busch. En 1989, le n�gociant Peter Fisher Classic Automobiles au Royaume-Uni vendit la voiture � un Su�dois qui assura l�entretien de cette Continental sans consid�ration de co�t en Su�de et au Royaume-Uni o� le r�put� sp�cialiste de la marque P & A Wood �mit une derni�re facture (� 68 257 km) d�un montant de 11 803 livres. La voiture fut acquise par GTC � Marseille (Jean Guikas) aupr�s de son propri�taire su�dois le 21 d�cembre 2001 � 68 262 km. Elle a re�u un �chappement neuf et cinq pneus neufs � 68 365 km. Elle n�a parcouru au total que 69 481 km et se pr�sente dans un �tat d�origine exceptionnel sans avoir �t� restaur�e.