Description
1964 Bentley S3, RHD, 4 Door, Automatic
£23, 000 PLEASE NOTE REDUCED PRICE
Reluctantly for sale due to impending emigration is my much cherished 1964 Bentley S3 in what is undoubtedly the best colour combination of its original shell grey over astral blue with blue full leather interior. An original RHD example, currently showing 42, 000 miles on the clock although I am unable to verify this. The car sailed through its last MOT on 30/ 08/ 2017 and a new MOT is offered at point of sale.
Overall appearance and condition of the car is excellent with bright chromework, good but not perfect paintwork and she sits proudly on four recent whitewall tyres. As you might expect, the car drives beautifully.
The car comes complete with rear picnic tables, power steering, power windows, power sunroof, original handbook and tool kit.
Driving
Sitting in the soft leather driver’s seat and looking over the long bonnet, the car has real presence and a sense of luxury. The 6. 2 litre V8 engine provides brisk progress with smooth gear changes thanks to the automatic gearbox. Power-assisted steering enables you to manoeuvre the big car with ease, wafting along country lanes in true statesman-like style!
Engine bay
The condition of engine bay is very tidy and original, if not pristine, with all hoses and electrics in good serviceable condition.
Interior
All switches, instrumentation and dials are in good order and work as they should. The soft leather seats have a nice patina in keeping with the period of the car, but are looking a little tired and worn in places. The wooden front door cappings have recently been re-lacquered. You may prefer to refurbish the leather seats or even re-cover them but as I think the patina adds to the overall character of the car, have not bothered to do so. Headlining is near perfect, having been renewed just 7 years ago. The carpets show no significant wear and have been further protected throughout my ownership by over-laying an additional carpet set.
Exterior
All chromework is in excellent condition with no pitting and the paintwork has a deep shine and is in good order save for a small crack in the paint on the right of the boot aperture and small bubble on the nearside wing. Glass and window seals are in similarly good condition.
Ownership
The original delivery document is present from 1964 showing the car was first registered on 01. 01. 1964 by retailer Jack Barclay Ltd, Mayfair (Specialist Bentley retailer still operating today) to Mr A. G. Berwick of East Croydon.
The car was exported to Los Angeles in 1996 and reputedly owned by Zsa Zsa Gabor during its time in California, although I have been unable to verify this as proof of ownership during this period in the car’s history is absent.
The car was re-imported into the UK in 2008 and I acquired the car in 2009 from Mr Paul Whiting of Chiltern Motors, Chesham.
Service History
There is an extensive history file of work undertaken, with receipts totaling thousands spent in the UK and USA.
Service history and ownership prior to exportation to the USA in 1996 is, regrettably, not present and so the mileage cannot be verified.
A considerable amount of major work was undertaken while in the USA between 1996-2007, detailed by a large number of receipts, including a full transmission rebuild at the cost of over $2, 600 in 2007.
In my (UK) ownership, I have had the following major items of work done: 2010 - Ignition overhauled £996, new headlining fitted £400; 2011- Electronic fuel pump £247 and brakes rebuilt £1, 203; 2013 - bonnet, driver’s door and wing were repainted; 2015 - High power ignition coil £306, door cappings’ wood veneer re-lacquered, four white wall tyres fitted; 2016 – new starter motor £310.
In summary, this is a great condition S3 that can be enjoyed immediately or brought up to the next level as/ when desired. Certainly, a lot of car for the money and not out of place at Ascot or other prestigious events. Sensible offers considered.
Phone Mike the details below
