1964 Bentley S3 Continental MPW Fixed Head Coupe
Lot details
Registration No: DSA 643B
Chassis No: BC138XC
MOT: Aug 2022 One of only 76 or so examples bodied to Park Ward's Design No. 2035 in both LHD and RHD Supplied new to FJL Green Esq by Weybridge Autos of Surrey complete with air-conditioning and an MPH / KMH speedometer Resident in the car-friendly climate of Australia for decades
Introduced in Autumn 1962, the S3 Continental was notable as the last Bentley to be coachbuilt on a separate chassis. Powered by a 6230cc OHV V8 engine allied to four-speed automatic transmission and reputedly capable of nigh-on 120mph, the newcomer was ferociously expensive. One of the more striking bodystyles available, Mulliner Park Ward’s Fixed Head Coupe to Design Number 2035 owed its beautifully sleek profile to Vilhelm Koren. A freelance stylist from Sweden, the 'straight-through' wing line and 'cut-back' wheelarches that he pioneered on the Bentley S2 Continental chassis were successfully carried over to its successor. Visually updated by the diagonal placement of their quad headlights, the Koren-inspired S3 Continentals (in either open or closed guises) thus boasted a decidedly modern yet majestic look. Understandably popular among contemporary celebrities such as Jayne Mansfield, Fanny Craddock, Sir John Mills, Harry Belafonte and Keith Richards, just 312 S3 Continentals were completed between 1962 and 1966. However, Mulliner Park Ward only bodied 76 chassis (in both left- and right-hand drive) to its Design Number 2035.
More expensive when new than an Aston Martin DB5 or Ferrari 250GT Lusso, the Bentley S3 Continental had more road presence than either rival. Understood to be one of less than fifty right-hand drive examples to be bodied by Mulliner Park Ward to its sleek Design Number 2035, chassis BC138XC was initially supplied by Weybridge Autos to F.J.L. Green Esq. As well as specifying a speedometer calibrated in miles and kilometres, Hirschmann electric aerial and combined parking and blinking lights, Mr Green had the four-seater fitted with air-conditioning (the height of luxury for a 1960s British car). A full-length Webasto sunroof was added later, and the Bentley appears to have relocated to Cornwall by 1972 or so the Kernow Old Vehicle Club badge for that year affixed to its frontage would indicate. Resident in the car friendly climate of Australia for decades, the S3 Continental has self-evidently been treated to a thorough mechanical and cosmetic restoration with the work reputedly carried out by renowned marque specialist R.A. McDermott & Co of Melbourne and Sydney.
Pleasingly retaining its original Red leather upholstery, chassis BC138XC has been cherished as part of a private collection since 2015. Twice driven to Le Mans by the vendor’s sons (who were very appreciative of the air-conditioning), it has benefited from regular servicing and fettling including a headlight upgrade, suspension set-up, hydraulic tappet overhaul, sundry re-chroming, replacement heater matrix and refurbished electric window motors etc. Starting readily and performing well during our recent photography session, the S3 Continental passed its most recent MOT test on August 13th 2021 with ‘no advisories’. Drawing admiring glances wherever it goes and blessed with one of the nicest dashboards ever to adorn a Bentley, ‘DSA 643B’ has lost none of its glamour or sense of occasion over the last fifty-seven years!
For more information, please contact:
Damian Jones
damian.jones@handh.co.uk
07855 493737
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Lot details
Registration No: DSA 643B
Chassis No: BC138XC
MOT: Aug 2022 One of only 76 or so examples bodied to Park Ward's Design No. 2035 in both LHD and RHD Supplied new to FJL Green Esq by Weybridge Autos of Surrey complete with air-conditioning and an MPH / KMH speedometer Resident in the car-friendly climate of Australia for decades
Introduced in Autumn 1962, the S3 Continental was notable as the last Bentley to be coachbuilt on a separate chassis. Powered by a 6230cc OHV V8 engine allied to four-speed automatic transmission and reputedly capable of nigh-on 120mph, the newcomer was ferociously expensive. One of the more striking bodystyles available, Mulliner Park Ward’s Fixed Head Coupe to Design Number 2035 owed its beautifully sleek profile to Vilhelm Koren. A freelance stylist from Sweden, the 'straight-through' wing line and 'cut-back' wheelarches that he pioneered on the Bentley S2 Continental chassis were successfully carried over to its successor. Visually updated by the diagonal placement of their quad headlights, the Koren-inspired S3 Continentals (in either open or closed guises) thus boasted a decidedly modern yet majestic look. Understandably popular among contemporary celebrities such as Jayne Mansfield, Fanny Craddock, Sir John Mills, Harry Belafonte and Keith Richards, just 312 S3 Continentals were completed between 1962 and 1966. However, Mulliner Park Ward only bodied 76 chassis (in both left- and right-hand drive) to its Design Number 2035.
More expensive when new than an Aston Martin DB5 or Ferrari 250GT Lusso, the Bentley S3 Continental had more road presence than either rival. Understood to be one of less than fifty right-hand drive examples to be bodied by Mulliner Park Ward to its sleek Design Number 2035, chassis BC138XC was initially supplied by Weybridge Autos to F.J.L. Green Esq. As well as specifying a speedometer calibrated in miles and kilometres, Hirschmann electric aerial and combined parking and blinking lights, Mr Green had the four-seater fitted with air-conditioning (the height of luxury for a 1960s British car). A full-length Webasto sunroof was added later, and the Bentley appears to have relocated to Cornwall by 1972 or so the Kernow Old Vehicle Club badge for that year affixed to its frontage would indicate. Resident in the car friendly climate of Australia for decades, the S3 Continental has self-evidently been treated to a thorough mechanical and cosmetic restoration with the work reputedly carried out by renowned marque specialist R.A. McDermott & Co of Melbourne and Sydney.
Pleasingly retaining its original Red leather upholstery, chassis BC138XC has been cherished as part of a private collection since 2015. Twice driven to Le Mans by the vendor’s sons (who were very appreciative of the air-conditioning), it has benefited from regular servicing and fettling including a headlight upgrade, suspension set-up, hydraulic tappet overhaul, sundry re-chroming, replacement heater matrix and refurbished electric window motors etc. Starting readily and performing well during our recent photography session, the S3 Continental passed its most recent MOT test on August 13th 2021 with ‘no advisories’. Drawing admiring glances wherever it goes and blessed with one of the nicest dashboards ever to adorn a Bentley, ‘DSA 643B’ has lost none of its glamour or sense of occasion over the last fifty-seven years!
For more information, please contact:
Damian Jones
damian.jones@handh.co.uk
07855 493737
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
