The British have created some beautiful cars over
the years, but few could hold a candle to the Bentley S1 Continental Drophead
Coupe. And this immaculate example is coming up for auction.
Unlike most Bentley convertibles of its time, the S1
DHC was built from the ground up as a drop-top by the craftsmen at Park Ward.
The coachbuilder had just been acquired by Rolls-Royce 17 years before this
example – bearing chassis number BC54LAF – was made in 1956.
And unlike later S2 and S3 Continentals, which were
powered by V8 engines, the S1 retained Bentley’s long-serving and smooth
running inline-six. The 4.9-liter unit left the S1 lighter than the later
eight-cylinder models, much as the V8 in the current Continental is lighter
than the heftier W12.
That gave the S1 a top speed clocked at 120 miles
per hour, which was unfathomably fast for its era and made it an ideal grand
tourer for crossing continents with ease – just as its name suggested. It even
had a variable rear suspension that the driver could switch on-the-fly between
harder and softer settings.
Only 31 such S1 Continental DHCs were made in
left-hand drive. This one was delivered to an early aviation financier, who
kept it for 25 years. After several other owners over the decades, the current
owner had it comprehensively restored to its original specification in silver
and blue. And as you can see for yourself from the photos below, it’s presented
in immaculate condition.
RM Sotheby’s will sell it in Monterey this August,
where it’s bound to make one individual of wealth and taste very happy indeed.
If only we had the means to place the winning bid.
