Lot 630: Bentley S1 Continental Fastback

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 4,887cc straight six engine of the R-Type Continental producing an estimated 158bhp which, via the four speed automatic transmission, allowed a top speed of 100mph.The use of the term Continental to indicate a high performance version of an existing chassis was an inspiration of Sir Henry Royce, and was first applied to the short chassis version of the Phantom II in 1930. Pleased with the success of the R-Type Continental, Bentley decided to offer a Continental version of the S series as well. H. J. Mulliner, now part of the Rolls-Royce empire, had been responsible for the fine looking, two-door, fastback cars whose aerodynamic lines were only infringed upon by the degree of conservatism expected of it by its clientele, demanding that at the very least the traditional Bentley radiator should be retained. Although the R-type's 120 inch wheelbase was increased to 123 inches on the S-type, there was only a minimum of alteration needed to make Mulliner's lovely body fit the new model.

TLD 3 was originally delivered to Jack Barclay of Berkeley Square, London and first registered on 5th March 1956 and subsequently sold to Albert Gooda of Beckenham, Kent, on 5th November of the same year. Two years later the car was sold through HR Owen to Mr Eric Miller and again two years later to A.C Hullett via Guy Salmon who retained the car for twenty years until 1982. The car passed through several hands until Coys sold the car in 1987 to the current vendors. While in the vendor's possession, the car was maintained impeccably with £12,500 spent in the first 2 years of ownership including overhaul of the brakes, chrome, wood and interior. Throughout the 1990s and up to the present day TLD 3 was serviced yearly with an engine overhaul in 1991 and 2000. Throughout TLD 3 has been well looked after with service bills and invoices dating from 1961 right through until 2009 with only a brief respite in work between 1985 and 1987.

TLD 3 is supplied with an extensive history file with many receipts from Bentley Motors and various Bentley specialists. The original Buff log book, V5 document, old MoTs and a current certificate valid for a year are supplied in the file alongside a copy of the build sheet and correspondence between various owners and Bentley Motors. TLD 3 was used for the worldwide launch of the Bentley Arnage at Le Mans in 1998, and within the history file is a certificate and letter of thanks from Bentley Motors.

Complete with the original registration mark and finished in grey with the original red leather interior, TLD 3 is without doubt a car for the true connoisseur of Britain's most famous and revered marque.