4,887cc OHV inline 6-cylinder engine
Twin SU carburetors
177bhp
4-speed automatic transmission
Independent front suspension and live rear axle with semi-elliptical leaf springs
4-wheel hydraulic drum brakes

*Rare left hand drive example
*Late series car with power steering
*Nicely kept, and well-maintained car
*One of Bentley's most iconic models

THE BENTLEY S1

'The Bentley 'S' Series is a very attractive car with superb lines, appearance and finish. It costs a lot of money, but to the connoisseur who must have the best it is worth every penny. This will still be a glorious car in 45 years' time, just as my own 1911 Silver Ghost is today.' - John Bolster, Autosport, 1956.

Conceived as replacements for the ageing Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn and Bentley R-Type, the all-new Silver Cloud and Bentley S-Type were introduced early in 1955. The duo sported sleeker bodywork on a new box-section separate chassis - Rolls-Royce eschewing unitary construction for the time being - incorporating improved brakes and suspension, the latter featuring electrically controlled damping. Enlargement to 4,887cc and the adoption of a six-port cylinder head boosted the traditionally undisclosed power output of the dependable inlet-over-exhaust six-cylinder engine, which for the first time was identical in specification in its Rolls and Bentley forms. Automatic transmission was now standard equipment, with manual transmission a Bentley-only option up to 1957. Fast - 100mph-plus - relatively economical and cheaper to maintain than the successor V8-engined versions, the classically elegant S1 is arguably the most user-friendly of all post-war Bentleys.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

Just about as classy yet understated a car as you could get from this era, this handsome sports sedan Bentley epitomizes this chapter of the more than 100-year tradition of Bentley Motor Cars. Its format is a rare one, for production of left-hand drive versions was certainly considerably less than those built in right-hand form, and it is further enhanced by being an late car in the series, by which time power assisted steering had been introduced, a factor which dramatically improved the driving experience of these cars. Additional extras include power windows all round.

The Rolls-Royce Foundation has kindly provided documentary evidence of the car's history to their knowledge and they have been able to confirm that the original owner of the car was Rufus C. Cushman, of the wealthy Boston suburb of Brookline, Massachusetts. Cushman's Bentley landed on USA soil on February 13, 1959 and he took delivery of the car in May 1959 through Foreign Motors. As new, it wore Tudor Grey paintwork with a single red coachline/pinstripe, which echoed its fully red interior of red leather seats piped in red and with maroon carpets. According to the Schoelkopf card, the next owner was noted Bentley collector Paul Sydlowski in 1978.

More recently, the car has been in local hands for many years where it was clearly treasured, and although a date of restoration is not supported by documents, the work carried out was very much to a standard in keeping with the brand as it remains in very tidy order today. The paintwork is finished in a clever two tone black over burgundy scheme with silver pinstriping which serves to accent the nice lines of these cars and suits it.

The interior oozes quality, with a beautifully finished dashboard and door trims, while the rich deep red leather has light aging with some creasing, but overall has both a rich smell of leather presents well. Put into the context of modern cars, these cars represent terrific value and provide an entrée to the excellent Rolls-Royce Owners Club which offer a multitude of events for driving and showing.