1959 Bentley S1

Here we have a 1959 Bentley S1 in the four-door sedan form. Its chassis code B105LFD represents that it was manufactured for the model year 1959 and has a left-hand-drive setup. The overall condition of the car (both exterior and interior) is decent, but it requires some TLC to achieve the original look. The dual-tone paint complements the S1's imposing looks whereas the interior is a lush mix of leather and wood.

The Bentley S1 was a rebadged version of the Rolls Royce Silver Cloud but with some changes to differentiate the two. In comparison to the R Type sedan, the S1 had more presence. And while Bentley (and Rolls Royce) had come a long way from the pre-war design, let's not forget that this is from an era before the British luxury carmakers had opted for a sleeker and evidently less curvaceous design.

The bodywork looks clean, with smaller details and the pinstripe still intact. The paint doesn't look bad, either, and one wouldn't be wrong in assuming that it won't be impossible to bring it closer to Concours levels. A closer look does present some imperfections — and you can check it out for yourself in the detailed photo gallery below.

The interior of the Bentley S1 was the usual ultra-luxurious affair with the dashboard and door cards covered in a mix of leather and wood. The front seats had foldable trays on their backs for the rear passengers. There was a lot of room inside, so while Bentleys were more driver-focused, taking the back seat occasionally wouldn't have been a downgrade for the owner. Ever.

The interior needs some work done on the front seats and the dashboard to bring it to ideal condition. There's some wear evident on the door cards and the floor, too. The roof lining looks alright, whereas the rear foldout tables work as intended.

Sharing its internals with the Rolls Royce Silver Cloud, the Bentley S1 was rear-wheel drive and powered by a 4.9-liter straight-six engine. Despite the car being fairly heavy (weighing over 4,000 lbs), this gave it respectable performance — and a top speed of over 100 mph.

The split-open hood allows one to see the straight-six engine. The engine bay doesn't exhibit any unusual damage, the boot houses a spare tire and some tools, and the rubber seals all around might will need replacement soon, if not immediately. There's no major rust-related damage, either.

Moving forward from the R Type, Bentley introduced the S1 in 1955, and the car, updated in the form of the S2 and S3, remained on sale till 1965. Body choice included the factory-supplied standard steel sedan and other coach-built variations including the rather excellent Continental. The S Series was also the last of its kind wherein they appointed a separate body and chassis, as with the succeeding T Series, Bentleys began unibody/monocoque construction. The S1 was on sale from 1955 to 1959, making this example a pretty late one.

Not quite as rare as the Rolls Royce badged version, the Bentley S1 was a prominent car of its time. It looked and felt great, had enough power despite not being the lightest, and offered great styling that left a lasting impression.

Estimated to be valued between $8,000 and $14,000, this 1959 Bentley S1 four-door sedan looks like a decent example that can be made to look excellent with some extra effort.

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL BIDDERS

It should be noted that this vehicle has been on static display for several years and we have no history available beyond that shown in the photography section.

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

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

Buyers should expect the title within 30 business days following the sale; however, please note that for reasons beyond Bonhams/The Market control, including any delays in lien releases by lien holder and/or delays by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent) in certain states, there are instances where the Buyer may not receive the title within 30 business days and, in those circumstances, Bonhams/The Market will work to provide the titles to the Buyer as soon as possible.

If a Lot is rendered “Title in Transit”, it is unlikely that the Buyers will receive the title in the mail within 30 business days following the auction/sale; however, Bonhams/The Market will work to provide the titles to the Buyer as soon as possible.

The Buyer acknowledges that delays in transferring titles including, due to delays at government Motor Vehicle departments, happen from time-to-time and, the Buyer will hold both Bonhams/Market and the Consignor harmless from any allegations of damages arising out of government or other delays.

Please note it is the responsibility of the Buyer to transfer ownership in compliance with their jurisdictional rules and regulations.