Lot No: 217
Bonhams Auctions - The Paris Sale Paris, 2 Feb 2012 at 14:30 Please contact us for further details of this auction.
1964 Bentley S3 Continental Drophead Coup©
Coachwork by H J Mulliner, Park Ward Ltd
Chassis no. BC52XC
Engine no. 26CBC
Described by The Autocar as, 'A new stage in the evolution of the post-war Bentley,' the magnificent Continental sports saloon has been synonymous with effortless high speed cruising in the grand manner since its introduction on the R-Type chassis in 1952. The Bentley Continental was, of course, exclusively a coachbuilt automobile. The firms of H J Mulliner, Park Ward and James Young all offered bodies on the Continental S2 (and S3) 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. By far the most striking of the S2 Continentals were those bodied by Rolls-Royce's in-house coachbuilder Park Ward, and this design by Norwegian Vilhelm Koren, with its influential continuous front-to-rear wing line, would continue on the Continental S3. Quad headlamps were the S3's major styling innovation, and on the H J Mulliner, Park Ward-bodied Continental, were contained in slanting nacelles, giving rise to this model's 'Chinese Eye' sobriquet.
Bentley S3 Continental chassis number 'BC52XC' is one of a mere 76 of its type bodied by H J Mulliner, Park Ward Ltd after the two firms' merger. Originally a right-hand drive model, the car was retailed via Rippon Brothers of Huddersfield and Hoffman's of Halifax and first owned by Mr Hubert Crossley of Brighouse, Yorkshire. Its UK registration was '999 HWT'. Accompanying copy chassis cards record the original colour scheme as 'Rouge Irise' with off-white leather upholstery, headlining and Everflex hood, and black carpets. Special features included a badge bar, power-operated hood, Marchal fog/spotlights beneath the front bumper, electric door windows, whitewall tyres and a Hirschmann electric aerial. Only one other owner is listed: Mr Brian H. Park of Birkdale, Lancashire, who acquired the Bentley in April 1966. It is not known when or by whom it was converted from right- to left-hand drive.
Restored in 2010, the Bentley currently displays a total of 44,068 miles (approximately 71,000 kilometres) on the odometer and is described by the vendor as in generally excellent condition. The car is offered with the aforementioned copy chassis cards and Russian registration document.
No r©serve
D©crite par The Autocar comme 'une nouvelle ©tape dans l'©volution de la Bentley d'apr¨s guerre', la superbe berline sport Continental a ©t© synonyme de longues croisi¨res grande vitesse sans effort et en grand style d¨s son introduction sur le ch¢ssis Type R en 1952. La Bentley Continental ©tait bien entendu une voiture carross©e l'unit©.
Les firmes de HJ Mulliner, Park Ward, James Young propos¨rent toutes des carrosseries sur les ch¢ssis S2 (et S3) qui diff©raient de la version standard avec leurs freins avant quatre m¢choires primaires, leur radiateur moins haut et jusqu'au ch¢ssis n° 'BC99BY' d'un rapport final plus long. De loin, les Continental S2 les plus frappantes furent celles r©alis©es par la carrosserie Park Ward int©gr©e Rolls-Royce et ce dessin d» au Norv©gien Vilhelm Koren avec sa ligne d'aile continue de l'avant l'arri¨re qui fit ©cole sera poursuivi sur la S3. Des doubles projecteurs caract©risaient la S3 qui, sur la Bentley Continental S3 de HJ Mulliner, Park Ward, ©taient log©s dans des nacelles inclin©es qui leur valut le sobriquet de 'Bentley aux yeux brid©s'.
La Bentley Continental ch¢ssis n° BC52XC est une des 76 voitures de ce type carross©es par par HJ Mulliner, Park Ward apr¨s la fusion des deux firmes. Dot©e l'origine de la direction droite, la voiture fut vendue neuve via Rippon Brothers de Huddersfield et Hoffman's de Halifax au premier propri©taire, M. Hubert Crossley de Brighouse (Yorkshire). Son num©ro d'immatriculation ©tait '999 HWT'. Les copies des fiches de fabrication indiquent que la teinte d'origine ©tait 'Rouge Irise' avec sellerie en cuir, ciel de toit et capote Everflex blanc cass©, tapis noir. Les ©quipements sp©ciaux comprenaient une barre porte-©cussons, une capote ©lectrique, des phares antibrouillard et longue port©e Marchal sous le pare-chocs avant, des glaces ©lectriques, des pneus flancs blancs et une antenne ©lectrique Hirschmann. Un seul propri©taire est ensuite indiqu©, M. Brian H. Park de Birkdale (Lancashire) qui acheta la Bentley en avril 1966. On ignore quand et par qui elle a ©t© transform©e en conduite gauche.
Restaur©e en 2010, la Bentley affiche environ 71,000 km au compteur, d©crite par le vendeur comme ©tant en tr¨s bon ©tat g©n©ral. La voiture est offerte avec les copies des fiches d'usine susmentionn©es et un titre d'immatriculation russe.
Sans r©serve
Estimate: ¢'š65,000 - 95,000
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