Story and History

1956 Bentley S1 Continental 2 door saloon by Park Ward

Wow - what a fabulous Continental we have for you here

Still striding around in her original colours (Silver & Green with Green hide interior) & bearing her original registration number too

Automatic and power steering with subsequent air conditioning and stereo fitment she boasts all the upgrades one could wish for on a 1950's Continental

A really lavish history folder, going back to 1964 and covering all of her life thereafter

Lavish is a good word for BC24AF for her maintenance records have always been extensive

It is quite clear that her owners (not many here) have quite simply turned a blind eye to any bill thrust upon them, and paid immediately without question - after all their Bentley has to be in prime condition, at all times naturally

Mr M L Marsh of Stratford-on-Avon took delivery firstly and seems to have kept her for a number of years

He must have charged around the countryside as by July 1960 he had already amassed 70.882 miles - at which point he had a 10.000 mile service & an exchange radiator fitted

Later in 1964, after further charging, an exhange engine unit and gearbox were supplied by the factory

Therafter and interestingly Mr Martin Zanger, of Holyoke News Co, Holyoke, Mass. (obviously a successful news publisher) bought her from Paddon Bros, Cheval Place, London SW1 in 1968 and had her shipped home

Nicely the original shipping papers are still within the folder, as well as many other notations and letters

His purchase invoice is included with this, attested by Huston Dixon, Consul for the United States of America, as he was to ship the car home immediately

There is also a copy airmail note, whereby he confirms to Cmdr Keller ( his chap at Paddon Bros Ltd - famous central London Bentley specialists of the period ) that he has chosen not to use the Bentley as an everyday car, for the condition is beautiful and I will use it for "State occasions only" - perhaps he was expecting a visit from HRH.......

Anyhow much charming correspondence from him and Cmdr Keller (one imagines a retired naval Commander......did I hear that wonderful Monty Norman tune when I wrote that?)

The Bentley stayed in Massachusetts until 1988 when his widow sold it to our dear friend Peter Fischer ( again much correspondence in the file relating to this ) at which point Peter prepared her for sale to his normal very high standards

The milometer had spun around to 55.000 miles by now, which was actually 155.000 attested by previous evidence in the folder

Only a few owners since Peter sold her to the next UK owner (in fact it would appear that we can assess the total number of owners since 1956 - which is unusual for a vehicle kept in the US. This is because Mr Zanger was the only keeper whilst over there) and actually only 5 owners in total since re-importation in 1988

Quite incredible really

Anyhow the car also speaks for itself - and let's not forget how wonderful these striking Park Ward Coupe's look on the road, or in the showroom, so never mind the wonderful cataloguing of this remarkable examples history and now let her do her talking for herself

Imposing and pretty and not normally adjectives which work well together, especially with regard to motor car design - well they work together here, that's for sure

A fabulous design, and I'm ashamed to say we'd quite overlooked how delightful they really are, having our last version of this, which we restored our selves after buying her in Sweden, a few years ago now

On the road she feels 20 years younger than her age - noticably better than so many others because of the constant and conscientious maintenance lavished (!!) upon her

Also remarkable value for money too, when comparing to the mechanically similar, more prevalent Fastback versions and not to forget the Park Ward DHC, based upon the same body, which today would reach the million pound mark, without even the wafting of a tail wind to help

Grab a Bentley bargain, and one with real style too - very under rated in our eyes