Lot Ended
Description
Well maintained and in regular use; only 32k miles on rebuilt engine;
Harvey Bailey handling kit; new tyres; first owned by Sir Ronald
Stewart, owner of London Brick Company; ready to enjoy
Copies of the factory build
sheets confirm that this Bentley S1 Sports Saloon left the works in March 1956
finished in dark green with a beige hide interior and was sold new via Murkett
Bros Ltd of Bedford to first owner Sir Ronald Stewart, owner and Chairman of the
London Brick Company.
It has had six further
owners since, according to the V5C. From 1995 to 2007 it was owned by a Mr D
Clasen of London SW1 who used the car frequently, including trips to the
Continent, invoices showing that it was religiously serviced throughout his
12-year ownership by marque specialists Frank Dale & Stepsons of Brentford.
In August 2002 at 86,896 miles the engine was fully rebuilt by
Frank Dale with new pistons, bearings etc. at a cost of £7,997. Other work
during Clasen's ownership included: recored radiator; front suspension rebuild;
brake system overhaul; rear axle and diff rebuilt; stainless steel exhaust; new
gear selector bushes and gearbox mountings; one-shot chassis lubrication system
overhauled.
The next owner bought the
car from Frank Dale in 2007 and kept it for two years, notes on file stating
that it had a £4,500 service when acquired which included fitting electronic
ignition and an electric cooling fan as he also lived in central London and used
the car in heavy traffic, reporting that “it drives superbly and is utterly
reliable… maintaining perfect water temperature even in the most extreme
conditions”.
The next owner, a gentleman
in Swansea, bought the car from The Real Car Company in March 2009 for £33,000
and kept it for 14 years. He covered over 20,000 miles in the car, notes on file
stating that it proved utterly reliable throughout this time and “will cruise
all day at 80 – 90mph and will do 109mph no problem! It never overheats even on
hot days driven fast, and I have never added oil between changes. The motor and
diff are really quiet and it is hard to believe the car is 67 years old”.
He also fitted a Harvey Bailey handling kit in 2010, his notes
stating that “the handling is much sharper than standard, and there is much less
body roll”. In 2016 the bodywork was tidied up with new inner and outer sills,
lower wing sections and some repairs to the rear chassis legs. In December 2021
it got a new set of Galaxy whitewall tyres which cost £504 from Longstone Tyres,
although these have been fitted with the white bands on the
inside.
Our vendor, who also
owns a couple of other Rolls-Royce/Bentley cars, acquired JFO 231 in May
this year and has gone right through it to address a few minor niggles including
fitting a new fuel pump, changing the oil and filter and servicing the carbs.
Like the last two owners, he reports that it is utterly reliable with good
handling, positive steering, good gearbox and he would have no hesitation in
driving it anywhere.
As you can see in the
photos, it looks to be in generally good order throughout, the only real
cosmetic faults we noted being a tear to the headlining above the r/h rear
vanity mirror and some fading to the dark green paintwork here and there.
Although it no longer needs one, it has an MOT until April 2024 with just one
advisory for minor corrosion to the vehicle structure (look at the underside
shots and you will see that it looks reassuringly solid).
Driven some 40 miles to the sale, this well-maintained Bentley has
always been in regular use and has only covered some 32,000 miles since the
engine was rebuilt. Starting promptly and running well as we have moved it
around on site, it is only reluctantly for sale because the vendor’s wife thinks
he already has far too many toys so something has to go!
For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email
[email protected]