Lot 466: 1958 Bentley S1 Standard Sports Saloon

The Bentley S1 was a luxury car produced by Bentley Motors Limited from 1955 through 1959. It marked Bentley parent, Rolls-Royce, reducing the differences between their Bentley and Roll-Royce models, with the S1 differing only in its radiator design and badging from the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I. The bore was 95.25 mm (3.7 in) and the stroke was 114.3 mm (4.5 in). Twin SU carburettors were fitted, with upgraded models from 1957. A 4-speed automatic transmission was standard, with a 4-speed manual available as an option until 1957. To many connoisseurs the Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars of the Fifties and early Sixties were the last cars displaying the traditional craftsmanship for which Rolls-Royce had become world-famous. Their separate chassis allowed an uncommon elegance of coachwork design, either by the Crewe factory itself or by independent coachbuilders such as H.J. Mulliner, Park Ward and James Young; the unitary construction of body and chassis of all subsequent models all but ended such a traditional association. The Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud and Bentley S series, announced in April 1955, employed such a chassis. Power was provided by the straight six, 4887cc engine of the R-Type Continental producing an estimated 158bhp which, via the four speed automatic transmission, allowed a top speed of 100mph. Supplied today by a well respected Bentley specialist, this good quality early series I Sports Saloon offers reliable motoring as denoted by the full 1 years MoT supplied with the car. A comprehensive history is also present; the large file of bills shows works undertaken throughout its life not only general maintenance but improvements and areas of restoration dating back to 1996. Its appearance on these pages is not the first time it has been in the public eye. In November 2001, it not only occupied the front page of Classic Car Weekly but was the subject of a comprehensive road test between Ipswich and Newmarket by Martin Hodder. Prior to that in 1978, it went for 6 years to the United States of America before returning to the UK in 1984. With MoT test certificates dating from then to the present day, then most elegant of touring cars is in good condition throughout and would certainly benefit from closer inspection.