1958 Bentley Continental S1 Drop Head Coupe

Bentley produced 431 examples of the high-performance Continental models on the S1 chassis, utilizing lighter-weight aluminum coachwork, done predominantly by Park Ward Ltd., James Young, H.J. Mulliner, and Freestone & Webb. Of these 431 examples, a total of 94 were drophead coupes. This particular example is a left-hand-drive drophead coupe with coachwork by Park Ward Ltd. It is one of 31 examples built in this configuration and is believed to be one of three that were fitted from new with both power steering and a powered soft top.

Chassis BC42LDJ was tested by the factory on January 24, 1958, and then shipped early the next month on the SS Rijnstroom from London to Amsterdam for display at the Amsterdam International Motor Show. The car's first owner, Mme S. Mayne of Brussels, Belgium, took delivery in June of that year.

This Bentley originally wore a Steel Blue exterior over a blue leather interior and rode on Dunlop Road Speed tires. By 1965, it was owned by Mr. Hersov, a resident of the Mayfair neighborhood of London. By 2005, the car was imported into the US for Arturo Keller by Rolls-Royce and Bentley specialist Vantage Motorworks. Tim Montgomery of Burlingame, California, bought the Bentley from Vantage Motorworks in 2009. While in the care of Mr. Montgomery, the Bentley received new paint and plating by Automotive Services Ltd. of Burlingame, an engine rebuild by R. Gross of Hayward, California, and subsequent engine work by Pacific Performance of San Mateo, California. The current cream leather interior is believed to have been installed around this time.

J.D. Classics in the U.K. advertised the Bentley for sale on behalf of Mr. Montgomery in 2014. It soon entered the care of the current owner. Since that time, it has been carefully maintained by the owner's in-house technicians and regularly exercised. The 4,887cc inline six-cylinder engine has twin SU HD6 carburetors and delivers and estimated 178 horsepower. There is a four-speed automatic transmission, four-wheel power-assisted drum brakes with mechanical servo, and an independent front suspension with coil springs and wishbones. At the back are semi-elliptical springs with electrically controlled piston-type dampers.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2023