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Founded by W.O. Bentley in 1919 at New Streets Mews in London, Bentley Motors had been born after 'W.O.' had already made a name for himself building rotary engines for British World War I aircraft. Such aircraft as the Sopwith Camel would be powered by Bentley's engines.
With such an engineering pedigree, it was an almost natural phenomenon that Bentley would turn to automobiles at war's end. By the early 1920s, Bentley had become synonymous with quality and performance. This reputation would be firmly cemented when Bentleys would go on to secure five 24 Hours of Le Mans victories. The first would come in 1924 with its 3-liter Sport. Then, from 1927 through 1930 Bentley would dominate as their models, like the 3-liter Super Sport and the 4.5-liter model known as 'Old Mother Gun', would go on to score four-straight 24 Hours of Le Mans victories.
Bentley would go on to build some very elegant saloons and cabriolets in the years before World War II. After the war, Rolls Royce and Bentley car was moved to an engine factory in Crewe, Cheshire. It would be from there that Bentley would first introduce its Continental Coupe. The Continental would come to define Bentley. The inferred meaning of the name meant it all: intended to transport its passengers in absolute comfort over long distances. But in the case of the S1, the exterior of the car was as romantic as its interior. Its elegant and sleek body styling seemed just right travelling through the air. Lightly touched with such chrome accents as the grille, headlights and front and rear bumpers, the simple, and yet, rich detailing would grab attention at almost every angle.
In all, there would be seven body styles of the S1 Continental offered. One of those chassis types, an S1 Continental Drophead Coupe; built by Park Ward, would be offered at this year's RM Auction in Monterey, California.
Chassis number BC3LDJ would be brought brand new by Karl's Shoe Store Ltd. in 1957. Of course Harry Karl would become quite well known as the husband of the famous Hollywood actress Debbie Reynolds. The car would actually begin its life as a model built for the Los Angeles Auto Show. There would be 185 Bentley S1 Continentals built with Park Ward bodies. Of those 185, only 31 would come with left-hand drive drophead coupes. Therefore, this car is just 1 of 31 examples, which already makes the car something special.
With a 6-cylinder, 4.8-liter engine capable of pushing the car up to speeds around 120 mph, Karl had a car that not only could go fast but it did so in such comfort that it was like sitting in one's chair in a robe and slippers, smoking a pipe and reading a good book.
Throughout the last couple of decades the car has been a part of a number of prominent collections and has been looked after quite extensively. Completed with a black and silver finish, the exquisite Continental also boasts of red Connolly leather and a burled walnut interior. With such refinements and intriguing history the car was expected to earn between $850,000 and $1,000,000 at auction.
Elegant and tasteful, beautiful and stunning, there just are not enough adjectives to describe Bentley's defining model of luxurious driving comfort and performance.
At auction, bidding reached $385,000 but was not enough to satisfy the reserve. It would leave the auction unsolved.
Sources:
'Feature Lots: Lot No: 153: 1958 Bentley S1 Continental Drophead Coupe by Park', (http://www.rmauctions.com/featurecars.cfm?SaleCode=MO11&CarID=r200&fc=0). RM Auctions. http://www.rmauctions.com/featurecars.cfm?SaleCode=MO11&CarID=r200&fc=0. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
'World of Bentley: About Bentley', (http://www.bentleymotors.com/world_of_bentley/about_bentley/). Bentley. http://www.bentleymotors.com/world_of_bentley/about_bentley/. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
Wikipedia contributors, 'Bentley', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 14 August 2011, 21:59 UTC, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bentley&oldid=444869408 accessed 16 August 2011By Jeremy McMullen
With such an engineering pedigree, it was an almost natural phenomenon that Bentley would turn to automobiles at war's end. By the early 1920s, Bentley had become synonymous with quality and performance. This reputation would be firmly cemented when Bentleys would go on to secure five 24 Hours of Le Mans victories. The first would come in 1924 with its 3-liter Sport. Then, from 1927 through 1930 Bentley would dominate as their models, like the 3-liter Super Sport and the 4.5-liter model known as 'Old Mother Gun', would go on to score four-straight 24 Hours of Le Mans victories.
Bentley would go on to build some very elegant saloons and cabriolets in the years before World War II. After the war, Rolls Royce and Bentley car was moved to an engine factory in Crewe, Cheshire. It would be from there that Bentley would first introduce its Continental Coupe. The Continental would come to define Bentley. The inferred meaning of the name meant it all: intended to transport its passengers in absolute comfort over long distances. But in the case of the S1, the exterior of the car was as romantic as its interior. Its elegant and sleek body styling seemed just right travelling through the air. Lightly touched with such chrome accents as the grille, headlights and front and rear bumpers, the simple, and yet, rich detailing would grab attention at almost every angle.
In all, there would be seven body styles of the S1 Continental offered. One of those chassis types, an S1 Continental Drophead Coupe; built by Park Ward, would be offered at this year's RM Auction in Monterey, California.
Chassis number BC3LDJ would be brought brand new by Karl's Shoe Store Ltd. in 1957. Of course Harry Karl would become quite well known as the husband of the famous Hollywood actress Debbie Reynolds. The car would actually begin its life as a model built for the Los Angeles Auto Show. There would be 185 Bentley S1 Continentals built with Park Ward bodies. Of those 185, only 31 would come with left-hand drive drophead coupes. Therefore, this car is just 1 of 31 examples, which already makes the car something special.
With a 6-cylinder, 4.8-liter engine capable of pushing the car up to speeds around 120 mph, Karl had a car that not only could go fast but it did so in such comfort that it was like sitting in one's chair in a robe and slippers, smoking a pipe and reading a good book.
Throughout the last couple of decades the car has been a part of a number of prominent collections and has been looked after quite extensively. Completed with a black and silver finish, the exquisite Continental also boasts of red Connolly leather and a burled walnut interior. With such refinements and intriguing history the car was expected to earn between $850,000 and $1,000,000 at auction.
Elegant and tasteful, beautiful and stunning, there just are not enough adjectives to describe Bentley's defining model of luxurious driving comfort and performance.
At auction, bidding reached $385,000 but was not enough to satisfy the reserve. It would leave the auction unsolved.
Sources:
'Feature Lots: Lot No: 153: 1958 Bentley S1 Continental Drophead Coupe by Park', (http://www.rmauctions.com/featurecars.cfm?SaleCode=MO11&CarID=r200&fc=0). RM Auctions. http://www.rmauctions.com/featurecars.cfm?SaleCode=MO11&CarID=r200&fc=0. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
'World of Bentley: About Bentley', (http://www.bentleymotors.com/world_of_bentley/about_bentley/). Bentley. http://www.bentleymotors.com/world_of_bentley/about_bentley/. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
Wikipedia contributors, 'Bentley', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 14 August 2011, 21:59 UTC, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bentley&oldid=444869408 accessed 16 August 2011By Jeremy McMullen
2011 RM Auctions at Monterey
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $850,000-USD $1,000,000
High Bid (Lot was not sold)
USD $385,000
1958 Bentley Continental S1 Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Bentley Continental S1
(Data based on Model Year 1958 sales)
1958 Bentley S-Type Continental Flying Spur Chassis#: bc22lel Sold for USD$71,500 2024 Mecum : Glendale | |
1958 Bentley S1 Continental 'Flying Spur' Sports Saloon by H.J. Mulliner Chassis#: BC34LEL Sold for USD$204,400 2024 RM Sothebys : Arizona | |
1958 BENTLEY S-1 Chassis#: S3579 Sold for USD$25,300 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ | |
1958 BENTLEY S1 CONTINENTAL FLYING SPUR Chassis#: BC22LEL Sold for USD$67,200 2023 Gooding & Company : Estate of Mark Smith Auction | |
1958 Bentley S1 Continental Drophead Coupe by Park Ward Chassis#: BC25 LDJ Sold for USD$1,875,000 2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1958 BENTLEY S1 CONTINENTAL DROPHEAD COUPÉ BY PARK WARD Chassis#: BC15FM Sold for USD$1,322,053 2021 RM Sothebys : A Passion for Elegance | |
1958 Bentley S1 Sold for USD$33,750 2021 GAA : April 2021 | |
1958 Bentley S-Type Continental Flying Spur Chassis#: BC22LEL Sold for USD$75,040 2020 Bonhams : Amelia Island Concours | |
1958 Bentley S1 LWB Saloon Chassis#: ALB24 Sold for USD$49,720 2019 H & H Classics - Imperial War Museum, Duxford | |
1958 Bentley S1 Continental Fastback Sports Saloon by H.J. Mulliner Chassis#: BC4LDJ Sold for USD$912,500 2018 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1958 Bentley S1 Saloon Sold for USD$15,750 2017 H & H Auctions - Duxford Motor Car Auction | |
1958 Bentley S1 Standard Steel Saloon Chassis#: B282FA Sold for USD$33,478 2017 Silverstone - NEC Classic Motor Show | |
1958 Bentley S1 Chassis#: B92FA Sold for USD$27,500 2017 Motostalgia Auction - Watkins Glen VGP | |
1958 Bentley S1 Continental Fixed Head Coupe by Park Ward Chassis#: BC48LCH Sold for USD$561,000 2017 RM Auctions : Amelia Island | |
1958 Bentley S1 Continental 'Flying Spur' Chassis#: BC8EL Sold for USD$138,619 2016 Bonhams : Bond Street Auction | |
1958 Bentley S1 Chassis#: B92FA Sold for USD$27,500 2016 Motostalgia Auction - Watkins Glen VGP | |
1958 Bentley S1 LWB Saloon Chassis#: ALB24 Sold for USD$52,961 2016 H & H Auctions - Imperial War Museum-Duxford | |
1958 Bentley S1 Continental 'Flying Spur' Sports Saloon by H.J. Mulliner Chassis#: BC2FM Sold for USD$187,000 2016 RM Sothebys : Arizona | |
1958 BENTLEY S1 SALOON Chassis#: B476FA Sold for USD$20,525 2015 Bonhams : The December Sale | |
1958 BENTLEY S-SERIES CONTINENTAL FLYING SPUR SALOON Chassis#: BC45DJ Sold for USD$281,779 2015 Bonhams : The December Sale |
Bentley Continental S1s That Failed To Sell At Auction
1958 Bentley Continental S1's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1958 Bentley S1 Continental Drophead Coupé by Park Ward | BC40EL | 2023 RM Sothebys : London | $800,000 | $1,000,000 | |
1958 BENTLEY S1 CONTINENTAL DROPHEAD COUPE | BC42LDJ | 2023 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | $1,600,000 | $2,000,000 | |
1958 Bentley S1 Continental Park Ward Fixed Head Coupe | BC35LDJ | 2023 Broad Arrow Group : Amelia Island | $550,000 | $650,000 | |
1958 Bentley S-Type Continental Flying Spur | BC22LEL | 2019 Bonhams : Quail Lodge Auction | $150,000 | $200,000 | |
1958 BENTLEY FLYING SPUR | BC32LCH | 2017 BarrettJackson : Scottsdale | |||
1958 Bentley S1 | B256FA | 2016 Barons : Jaguar Heritage, Classic Cars and Motorcycles | |||
1958 BENTLEY S1 DROPHEAD COUPE | B212LFA | 2015 Bonhams : The Frederiksen Auction | $7,200,000 | $9,200,000 | |
1958 Bentley S1 Continental Park Ward Two doors Saloon | BC3 LFM | 2015 Rétromobile by Artcurial Motorcars | $400,000 | $600,000 | |
1958 Bentley S1 Continental Park Ward Two-Door Sports Saloon | BC21EL | 2014 Silverstone : Salon Prive | |||
1958 Bentley S1 Continental Drophead Coupe by Park Ward | BC3LDJ | 2011 RM Auctions at Monterey | $385,000 | $850,000 | $1,000,000 |
1958 Bentley S1 Continental Four Door Sports Saloon by James Young | BC-21-DJ | 2011 Silverstone Classic Sale | |||
1958 BENTLEY S-1 | B214FA | 2011 Silver Auction Ft McDowell, Arizona | $12,000 | ||
1958 BENTLEY S-1 | 2010 Silver Auction Tucson | $11,000 | |||
1958 Bentley S1 Continental Flying Spur Sports Saloon | BC46LEL | 2008 Bonhams Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles Automobiles d'Exception | $125,000 | $145,000 | |
1958 Bentley S1 Continental Four-Door Saloon | BC49EL | 2003 Bonhams RollsRoyce & Bentley Motor Cars & Related Automobilia | $26,000 | $28,000 | |
1958 BENTLEY S 1 FOUR DOOR | 2001 Kruse Auction Dallas, TX | $10,600 | |||
1958 BENTLEY S 1 SALOON | 2001 Kruse Auction Dallas, TX | $10,000 | |||
1958 BENTLEY S 1 FOUR DOOR | 2001 Kruse Auction Dallas, TX | $11,750 | |||
1958 BENTLEY SI FOUR DOOR | 2001 Kruse Auction San Antonio, TX | $15,750 |
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1958 Bentley Continental S1
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