Lot 333: 1967 Bentley T-Series Two-Door Sedan

James Young had established itself among the foremost coachbuilders for upmarket chassis by the end of the 1930s and continued to offer coachbuilt designs of distinction on (mainly) Rolls-Royce and Bentley chassis until the arrival of the unitary construction Silver Shadow/T-Series range in the 1960s. In what would turn out to be its coachbuilding swansong, James Young, by then part of the Jack Barclay Group, re-bodied a small number of these new unitary-construction cars as two-door sedans. Just 50 of these exclusive vehicles were made before the firm ceased coachbuilding in 1967, the split being 35 Rolls-Royce and 15 Bentley. The remodelling included such James Young ‘trademarks’ as ultra-slim windscreen and door pillars; elegant, extended door handles and the firm’s own special seating and superior interior woodwork.

Supplied new in the UK, this early, right-hand drive, James Young-bodied Bentley was completed in February 1967. Finished in Sage/Smoke Green with off-white leather interior, the car incorporates many special features including dual fog lights, extended parking lamp option and Webasto sunroof in matching Everflex. Desirable upgrades include new Classic air conditioning; new Silver Spirit starter motor; later, revised Girling front suspension struts (for much improved handling) and AM/FM radio/cassette (the original 8-track will be forwarded to the next owner).

We are advised that every area of this car has been faithfully preserved whenever possible, only routine service parts being replaced using quality products from Rolls-Royce. The vendor acquired ‘CBH1618’ in March 1999 from Frank Ovanin, who had owned it since 1985, and comes with tool kit, owner’s manual and numerous service records dating from 1985 onwards. It is offered fresh from servicing, detailing and state inspection (June 2005). The vehicle displays a total of circa 94,800 miles on the odometer and although ‘smog exempt’, has nevertheless always passed the emissions test. A rare and most distinguished, coachbuilt English automobile, ‘CBH1618’ has 15 first-class concours awards to its credit, including the Palm Springs Concours and San Diego ‘Salute to Bentley’.