1958 Bentley S1

The S1 became the new standard steel saloon car for Bentley, designed to replace the outgoing R Type standard steel saloon which had been in production, with updates, since 1946. The S1 was larger and roomier for passengers. The body of the car was made from pressed steel with stressed skin construction. The doors, hood, and trunk lid were all made from aluminum. The main differences in the S1 from the outgoing R Type are as follows: 3-inch longer wheelbase, a lower build without reduced headroom, increased trunk space, softer suspension with electrically operated control of rear dampers, lighter steering, improved braking, increased engine capacity, and a standard four-speed automatic transmission.

The exterior was done in a lovely shade of metallic silver known as Shell Gray. While the car looks clean from a distance, rough patches do start to appear upon closer inspection. There are small bubbles in the paint on every side of the car, both taillights need to be replaced, the emblem on the back of the car is fading, and there are several chips in the paint around the driver’s door. The chrome around the car is clean and straight. The wheels are in good condition, and we believe the vehicle would benefit from a new set of tires.

The inside features red leather and plenty of wooden inlays. The interior is solid, but some work will be required here if the winning bidder intends to compete. Nothing is outwardly broken, but the leather and wood inside need treatment. The bench seats both up front and in the rear need a heavy coat of polish. They appear to have dried out over the years and the creases in the leather are just barely beginning to become legitimate cracks in the material. The driver’s seat is the most at risk, the other seats are likely a year or two behind. The carpets are clean although they seem to have some trouble fitting neatly around the pedals. The steering wheel is undamaged, and all the gauges are clean and easily readable. The roughest part of the interior by far is the wood. Almost every piece of wood either needs a new coat of varnish and sealer or has a quarter-sized chip in it. Overall, we’d say that the interior is fair, but the imperfections, especially in the wood, add up very quickly.

We are pleased to report that the underside has no major damage. Some surface corrosion is present but this is also expected given the age of the vehicle. Most of the surface corrosion can be found on the leaf springs, but the suspension components are clean and appear to be in solid form. Fortunately, this trend does not continue under the hood, all of the components are tidy, and nothing appears to be out of place.

This S1 was delivered directly to New York late in May of 1958. It was purchased by a gentleman who kept the car in Long Island. From that point on, the car’s history becomes unclear. What we do know is that the seller acquired this car in August of 2012.

The Bentley S1 was one of the models that helped Bentley establish themselves as one of the titans in the luxury segment today. This specific S1 has its fair share of bumps and bruises, but out of the box it would make a great driver’s car. Conversely, if the desire is to show the car competitively, then the cosmetic work required to get it back in shape is relatively minor compared to others. The point is, for a 64-year-old car, this S1 is in great shape, and for that reason we are confident that it will achieve it’s $10,000 - $20,000 estimate.

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL BIDDERS

It should be noted that this vehicle has been on static display for a number of years and there is no history available beyond that displayed in our photography section.

We have not started or driven the car so cannot vouch for its mechanical viability or functionality. It will require recommissioning prior to road use and is sold ‘as seen’.

Please note that the title for this vehicle is in transit.