1959 Bentley

• The penultimate of just nine cars built in right hand drive to Design No 7500 by H.J.Mulliner
• Adapted with the removal of the original rear fins and larger front side lights
• In excellent condition after a restoration to concours standards for one of the most fastidious collectors  
• Fitted with air conditioning
• Complete with tools, chassis cards and history

Chassis No BC26GN is the eighth of just nine built to Design No 7500 in right hand drive by H.J.Mulliner on the S1 Continental chassis. It was originally completed in June of 1959, finished in velvet green with a grey leather interior. It was then supplied by Rippon Bros Ltd of Huddersfield to Hansan Buses Ltd of St Johns Road, which was also in Huddersfield. According to the factory records, the car changed hands several times in its very early life before finding its way back to London in 1966. We understand that a few years later, the car was exported to South Africa where it remained in the hands of a collector there for around thirty years. In the 1990’s it was purchased by Mr Brett Gage, a well-known collector of Rolls-Royce and Bentley motor cars. In previous years he had seen Chassis No BC27GN which had been adapted from its original specification, with the removal of the rear fins and alterations carried out to the front side spotlights, bringing the car in line with the S2 Continental coupe by H.J.Mulliner in terms of its basic appearance. He was a great admirer of this car, so decided to replicate this look on Chassis No BC26GN. During the works, the car was also extensively restored in every way, with air conditioning also added. The show quality restoration carried out at the time still looks absolutely first class some twenty years later. Chassis No BC26GN was repatriated to the UK by Mr Gage and in 2019 it was prepared and sold by Clark and Carter of Essex. Their works covered an extensive mechanical review with works to the gearbox and engine, all documented in the cars history file. It was supplied to a collection in Holland and has more recently become part of a collection in Germany. This superb S1 Continental is in top class condition and should be seen in person and driven to be truly appreciated. ‍

Coachbuilders H.J. Mulliner had enjoyed significant success during the 1950s with their iconic R Type Continental Fastback and subsequent S1 Continental Fastback designs. As the launch of the all-new Bentley S2 Continental chassis and engine drew closer the design team at H.J. Mulliner also looked to the future and began to make some small amendments to their S1 Continentals Fastback design by re-positioning of the front spotlights on to the top of the wing line. They also listened to their customers’ requests for a new two door design which allowed greater luggage capacity in the boot. The result was Design No 7500, which was produced in very limited numbers with just nine right hand drive cars built and one car built-in left-hand drive. It was a bold new design which featured a wraparound rear screen, fins on the rear wings and side lamps positioned in the step of the front wing. It was unveiled at the 1958 Earls Court Motor Show and arguably paved the way for Design No 7514, the H.J.Mulliner coupe design on the S2 Continental chassis. Design No 7514 retained the basic shape of Design No 7500, however the rear fins were removed, and the front side light arrangement was toned down. Design No 7514 is considered by many, including ourselves to be the most attractive coachwork option on the S2 Continental chassis.