MOTOR CARS | 159‘The Bentley S2, with its sister Rolls-Royce models, gives high-
speed travel in silence and luxury, while the driver and passengers
enjoy the sense of well being that only British craftsmanship
can give. The V8 engine, with its flashing acceleration, certainly
contributes to the result and is a definite step forward in Rolls-
Royce technique.’ - Autosport.
The Continental version of the Bentley remained, as ever,
exclusively a coachbuilt car. The firms of H J Mulliner, Park Ward,
James Young and Hooper (with a solitary example) all offered
bodies on the Continental S2 chassis, which differed from the
standard version by virtue of its four-leading-shoe front brakes,
shorter radiator and, up to chassis number ‘BC99BY’, higher
gearing. Of these four, James Young and Hooper would soon cease
coachbuilding, leaving only Mulliner and Park Ward to carry on a
noble tradition. Consolidating its in-house coachbuilding capability,
Rolls-Royce purchased H J Mulliner in 1959 and two years later the
firm was merged with Park Ward, which had been acquired in 1939.
The car offered here, ‘BC-131-LCZ’, is an early example of Park
Ward’s influential ‘straight through wing’ body style. An exceptionally
well documented Continental that has had only three owners from
new, ‘BC-131-LCZ’ was kept by the first - a Mr Boyer - from 1962
to 2004, when it passed into the care of the immediately preceding
owner. Mr Boyer ordered the Bentley from Jack Barclay in London,
taking his new car on vacation in Scotland before shipping it back
to his home in New Jersey, USA. The Bentley covered some 64,000
miles in Mr Boyer’s hands and was properly maintained at all times.
It is completely damage and rust free and has never had any repairs.
All correspondence from the date of original purchase, bill of sale,
yearly registration cards, etc come with the car.
Cosmetically the Continental is excellent, with straight body panels,
regulation panel fit and very nice paintwork. All the chromework is
original and excellent with no dents or pitting, while the interior is
in superb order, retaining its original leather upholstery, carpeting,
woodwork and radio, the latter in working order. The boot and
engine compartment are likewise totally original and in excellent
condition. In short: everything on this car has been well maintained
and is working. The second owner continued to maintain the
car properly, entrusting the work to recognised Rolls-Royce and
Bentley specialists, Brabo of Hillegom, Netherlands. There are
invoices on file totalling circa €20,000 accumulated during his
ownership, in which time the car was driven 25,000 miles.The current (third) owner purchased the Bentley at Bonhams’ Reims
Sale in September 2009 (Lot 124). Since acquisition it has been
maintained by Jeremy Padgett, the well known Bentley Continental
specialist, and prepared by him for the various rallies and events in
which it has participated. These include the Argentine Mille Miglia
in Patagonia in the autumn of 2010, which was back-to-back with a
‘fun run’ event there and in Chile. The car has had maintenance and
servicing work done since then and is in generally excellent running
order. It has also been used for trips to the South of France and
Italy, and another ‘fun run’ rally in Portugal in 2012. A new radio/CD
player was installed in 2010.Distinguished by its irreproachable history and documentation,
long term ownership and excellent condition, this unique Bentley
Continental is ready to go anywhere and comes with its original
USA title, Dutch registration papers, V5C registration document and
fresh MoT.
£90,000 - 120,000
€110,000 - 150,0002