1965 Bentley S3 Series Continental Coupe

This 1965 Bentley S3 Continental Coupe with coachwork by Rolls-Royce's in-house coachbuilder Park Ward. Styling features include the quad headlights in slanting nacelles, giving rise to the model's 'Chinese Eye' sobriquet. The 6,230cc, overhead-valve, aluminum V8 engine benefits from an increased compression ratio and larger carburetors which helped raise power by approximately seven percent. The engine is backed by a four-speed automatic transmission with four-wheel Girling drum brakes. The suspension is independent in the front with semi-elliptical leaf springs in the back.

In May of 1964, Mr. Lawrence S. Reed sold his Texas Gulf Producing Company to Sinclair for $253 million. Around that time, he ordered this Bentley S3 Continental Coupe from Rolls-Royce of New York. It was finished in Tudor Grey over Grey leather, with options that included a Blaupunkt radio, electric windows and aerial, plain Sundym glass all around, and white wall tires.

This car wears an older restoration and has since been refinished in black over tan hides with a more modern cassette radio and air conditioning. Lucy Dahl acquired the Bentley in 2002 and retained it for six years before selling it to the current owner in 2008.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2021