1958 Bentley

• The thirty-eight of just fifty-eight examples in right hand drive
• The ultimate post war Bentley with open coachwork
• Just two owners from new
• Still in its original colour scheme with its original leather
• A late specification example with power steering and power hood
• Complete with tools, handbook and touring kit

Chassis number BC7EL is the thirty-eighth of just fifty-eight right hand drive all aluminium bodied drophead coupes by Park Ward for the S1 Continental chassis built to Design No 700. This design is widely regarded to be the most attractive post war Bentley with open coachwork and one that is highly coveted by collectors and enthusiasts alike. It was originally completed in May of 1958 to the order of Mr Andrew H.S.Lewis Esq of Netherley in Kincardineshire and supplied to him by S.M.J Sales and Service Ltd of Aberdeen. It was originally finished in midnight blue with a red leather interior, the colour combination it still retains today. Being an EL Series S1 Continental it was also built to the best mechanical specification, with factory power steering, the larger of the two carburettors fitted to S1 Continentals and the dual brake reservoir brake set up. This car also has a power hood, making it the very best overall specification one could wish to find. The Lewis family retained the car until 1989 when it was purchased by the second and current owner, also north of the border in Scotland. During the Lewis family ownership, the car had been repainted royal blue, something the second owner chose to change, putting the car back into its original paint colour. He entrusted the restoration of BC7EL to a noted Bentley specialist, who restored and repainted the coachwork as already stated, but also fitted a new hood in dark blue mohair and restored the chrome and cabin woodwork. Mechanically speaking the car was extensively reviewed with works including an engine overhaul. The original red leather was retained, and a new hood cover trimmed to match. Since completion around twenty years ago the car has been sparingly used but properly maintained. It still presents in superb condition in every respect, testament to the high-quality works carried out at the time. The car also drives beautifully following a recent mechanical review by another noted Bentley specialist, Clark & Carter. Chassis No BC7EL is a very handsome example of this ever-popular model and comes complete with all of its tools, a beautiful and fully stocked touring kit, original handbook, copy chassis cards and history file. A wonderful motor car and one that we are very proud to be offering for sale.

The tremendous success Bentley enjoyed with the R Type Continental continued onto the S Series chassis in late 1955 with a range of new bodies available to collectors. The Park Ward drophead coupe was originally the brainchild of legendary coachwork designer John Blatchley who had been involved in the styling of the R Type Continental by H.J. Mulliner. Six R Type Continental chassis were delivered to the Park Ward works, which were then owned by Rolls-Royce. Blatchley was given the task of styling the four drophead coupes and the two further fixed head coupes on the R Type Continental chassis, a design which was later slightly adapted for the marginally longer S1 Continental chassis.