Highlights
- Further £20,000 invested since 2021
- Beautiful Sage Green with tan interior
- One of only 23 Standard Steel LWB cars
- Fascinating history including original bill of sale
The Appeal
In 1958, if you had the modern-day equivalent of £200,000 to spend on a car, there were few sensible alternatives to this, the very last of the coach-built, separate-chassis Bentleys.
Encounter this gorgeous Sage Green S1 now and you are transported back to that very different world. Its first owner was very particular about the seat specification and fitted a retracting privacy screen, clear indications that this was a car to be driven in rather than to get involved in the messy business of driving. It retains all the majesty that suggests, with its opulent West of England cloth in the back and less esoteric leather seat faces up front.
It is one of just 23 LWB ‘standard steel’ factory built cars and was originally sold by Jack Barclay. More recently it spent time in Montana before returning to Britain in 2019 via the illustrious Beverley Hills Car Club.
Prior to arrival it was comprehensively restored, refinished in Sage Green rather than the original black. Further work through 2021, 2022 and 2023 exceeds £20,000, all undertaken by marque specialists.
This is a stunning, rare car in very good condition. For the buyer it is a great opportunity to benefit from all that investment and experience one of motoring’s finest vehicles.
The History and Paperwork
- First registered in UK on 10th March 1958
- Supplied via Jack Barclay to W&C French of Essex
- The first owner carefully specified the seat dimensions and trim as outlined in photographs
- Factory supplied in black with brown interior trim in same material combination as now
- Factory options included retractable privacy screen and power steering
- One of 35 LWB cars of which only 23 were Standard Steel factory-built cars like this one
- Original multi-page factory build sheet with handwritten notes
- Early factory service records
- Original bill of sale detailing specification and first keeper
- Certificate of title from Montana recording sale to Beverley Hills Car Club in March 2019
- We are told the car was imported to UK ijn 2019
- Two registered keepers since arrival in UK
- Previously sold via Car & Classic in 2021
- Bentley factory handbook and advertising brochure
- Comprehensively restored prior to arrival in UK and repainted in Sage Green
- Further restoration exceeding £20,000 undertaken from 2021 to 2023 detailed below
Notable recent maintenance by specialists:
- 14/7/22 - £16,804 of refurbishment covering mechanicals, engine, trim and electrics
- 21/6/21 - headlamp parts acquired
- 1/6/21 - car cover purchased
- 23/2/21 - brakes, suspension, fuel send and service work
The Condition
- Very appealing Sage Green repaint from 2019 remaining in very good condition
- Sleek LWB body with 127in wheelbase and spacious rear cabin
- Aluminium bonnet, doors and boot lid
- Chromework and exterior fittings in very good order
- Underside similarly well presented with no issues to note
- Whitewall tyres in good condition with well kept chrome hub caps
- New door seals recently fitted
- Interior a symphony of hand-crafted quality including extensive veneers
- Cabin fitting are very well kept including wood, switchgear and retractable screen
- First owner carefully specified the West of England rear cloth and front leather seats
- The centre division does not work, the motor was removed in America
Few cars deserve the description ‘majestic’ quite like the S1 Bentley. The epithet is particularly appropriate to this long wheelbase model which stretches the sculptural lines by a further 4inches, all of which is allocated to the rear seat passengers.
It was clearly designed around those occupants, a theme that the first owner firmly leaned into if the history file is anything to go by. The back is trimmed in West of England cloth while the chauffeur makes do with slippery leather. Thankfully he can be usefully shut out using the retractable screen. The acres of hand-crafted veneers are a further detail to relish as one travels in silent comfort, uninterrupted by a yabbering chauffeur.
The interior colour neatly complements the beautiful Sage Green bodywork, a clever and unusual choice that certainly suits the car. It was repainted prior to 2019 in America, the work undertaken at considerable expense by marque specialists. The car remains in superb condition inside and out, making it a real treat for anyone lucky enough to travel in it - whether consigned to front or back.
The Mechanics
- 4.9litre straight six Bentley hand-crafted engine
- Twin SU carburettors
- 3spd automatic gearbox
- Standard ivory/off white engine bay is factory correct
- Extensive mechanical and engine fettling in July 2022 totalling nearly £17,000
- The car is reported to run and drive very well with no reported issues
Those rear seat occupants are also unlikely to be bothered by the intrusion of mechanical noise, such is the silent smoothness of the hand-built six cylinder 4,887cc engine under the bonnet. The S1 was the final outing for this venerable engine, but it remained quiet and silken, offering ‘sufficient’ performance to the plucky chauffeur up front.
The recent maintenance history of this car is impeccable, exceeding £20,000 and covering engine, running gear and electrics. Nearly £17,000 was spent in July 2022 alone with a renowned marque specialist. As a result the car is said to run and drive very well and with no issues for the buyer to attend to.
BEFORE YOU BUY
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:
✓ If the seller is registered as a private seller, consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not apply. Car & Classic’s return policy applies.
✓ A non-refundable deposit will be payable if you are the winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for details.
✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is, Where Is’ basis and without warranty. A full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase and bidding is highly recommended. Photos and descriptions are for guidance purposes only.
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's deposit. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.
✓ UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check, to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing.
✓ Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection or delivery.
