1964 Bentley S3

We are pleased to be offering for sale a 1964 Bentley S3, resplendent in the attractive colour combination of sable over sand.

Supplied by J. Cockshoot Ltd in Manchester, the lucky first owner was a Mr Brian Cornall from Bolton in Lancashire. He took delivery early in July and what a great summer he must have had, showing off his prized new Bentley.

The car was supplied with a badge bar, but most importantly with seat belts and electric windows. How much we now take for granted.

We know the car was then passed on in 1978 to Seblingham Ltd, a building company based in London.

The car’s third owner, the late Peter Baines, was the driving force and steadying hand of the esteemed Rolls-Royce Enthusiast Club. He used the car extensively at RREC events and to carry out official duties on behalf of the club.

On his death in 2005, the car was sold by Bonhams and went to Ireland where it was treated to a repaint. It was much cared for by its then owner.

In 2015 it returned to UK shores and was then subject to a full mechanical inspection and some repairs, the aim being to return it to tiptop driving condition.

We are told the interior is the original and with the car’s odometer reading just 52,500 miles, we have no reason to doubt it.

The S3 drives well, and its sale represents a fantastic opportunity to buy one of the best, post-war, factory-built Bentleys on the market today.

It is really quite hard to believe that this still rakish silhouette is getting on for 60 years old, such is the condition of the panelwork. Gaps between the doors, bodywork and lids are even and symmetrical.

The paintwork was redone sometime after the car’s arrival in Ireland and whilst the sable over sand looks very smart from afar, there are some areas to note. We would suggest studying the photographs in detail or better still come and take a look.

On the offside, there does appear to be some rippling to the panels and we can see signs of rust beginning to peep through on the sill.

The nearside has some rust bubbles appearing in places too especially on the front wing.

We also note the odd crack here and there and the expected stone chip or two.

The Bentley is adorned with plenty of chrome, and we suspect it is all original. Mostly in good order, apart from a little pitting in places, the car’s new owner would be well advised to stock up on chrome cleaner.

Interested parties will be pleased to note that new Avon Turbospeed tyres were fitted in 2015 for the princely sum of £1,032.96. Period correct, the wheels themselves come with rather smart Bentley monogrammed hubcaps.

Bentley are renowned for making some of the finest car interiors and that tradition is carried on today by a knowledgeable and skilled workforce in Crewe. They do factory tours which are well worth a few hours of your time.

Swing open any of the S3’s solid doors and prepare to be impressed. The smell of old leather is almost overpowering, but really rather lovely. The tan hide is original to the car and has aged rather nicely, with a gorgeous patina that cannot be replicated.

There is more wear to the front seats, the back ones clearly not having had as much use. We would do nothing more than treat them to a good dose of hide food to keep the leather soft and supple.

Unusual for the time are seat belts fitted to the rear, though we note the webbing is a little grubby.

No Bentley would be complete without a liberal splash of wood, and dash and door caps are duly covered. We almost forgot about the mighty fine picnic tables which fold out from the front seats.

In the middle of the dashboard sits the instrument panel, with a lovely assortment of period gauges. We would be tempted to source a new radio to replace the rather modern looking offering. Just us maybe..

Carpets front and rear are covered with deep lambswool over rugs, so soft that you want to kick your shoes off and relax. Underneath the layers, we do note some areas of light rust close to the doors which could do with some attention. We also note some areas where rust is just starting to appear in the door openings.

The boot is vast, so no need to travel light if a touring holiday is on the cards. A spare wheel lurks under the floor and is easily accessible. An excellent selection of hand tools accompanies the car too. We also note the fitment of a CD autochanger.

We always include plenty of pictures of a car’s underside, so we suggest you pause a while and take a look. There is of course the expected road dirt and some signs of minor surface corrosion in places. We would be tempted to get the Bentley up on some ramps, give it all a good clean and apply some more underseal where required. Prevention is better than cure.

You will be able to spot that work has been carried out to the suspension, the new components being easy to spot.

There’s a lot going on under the bonnet and there are signs that regular maintenance has taken place. The compartment itself is tired in places and would benefit from some titivation here and there.

When moving the car around for photographs, we did note a fuel leak from under the engine which ceased as soon as we turned the ignition off. Some investigation will be required.

At a little over 52,000 miles, this lovely Bentley has clearly had a quiet life. It comes complete with factory record cards and a raft of MoT certificates up to 2005 when it headed over to Ireland. Since its return it has not been tested, being now registered as an historic vehicle.

The handbooks and maintenance records are present and correct and make for interesting reading.

Also with the car are extensive invoices from 2015 to the present day. Amongst the work carried out includes:

• New horn and washer bottle.

• 4 new Avon Turbospeed tyres.

• New oil, filter and plugs.

• New rear shock absorbers.

• New exhaust manifold.

• New nearside body mounting assembly.

• New ignition leads.

• Rear brake overhaul.

• Replacement electric window switch.

• New front offside wheel cylinder.

This is very much a buy to use classic Bentley. Great for a touring holiday or for a relaxing Sunday afternoon drive, this head turning car is sure to delight.

Much maintenance has been carried out in recent years and with a few small jobs ticked off, we imagine this lovely car will continue to give many years of faithful and reliable service.

With new and rather gauche Bentley saloons now retailing for somewhere north of £150,000, the £24,000 to £31,000 we estimate the S3 will sell for looks somewhat of a bargain.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.