1957' Bentley S1 Fastback

1957 Bentley S1 Fastback

£ P.O.A

(Scheduled for completion - Spring 2018)

Recommended by expert, Stephen Halstead, in Octobers issue of “Classic Cars” as a top tip purchase in 2018, the Bentley S-type Continental Fastback is a car not to be missed. Especially with this example undergoing the highly sought after form of restoration known as “body off”. This is the “gold standard” of all restorations and sees the car completely stripped and every component either reconditioned or replaced. The result is a factory finished motor car that will be enjoyed on our roads once more for years to come. The market has changed. Car enthusiasts are tired of buying ‘restored’ prestigious classic cars which are simply ‘tired’ examples ‘brightened up’ to mimic a quality restoration. Luxury classics like this a part of our history and deserve our care and attention.

Stephen Halstead goes on to explain that “both the S-type and R-type Continental Fastbacks have increased in value over the past ten years. The S Fastback is a rarer beast; Mulliner produced just 151, including 123 with right-hand drive. The S-type also offers a little more comfort than its predecessor, with electric windows, air conditioning, automatic transmission and power steering, so the driving experience was more suited to long-distance touring.” Bentley's magnificent Continental sports saloon has been synonymous with effortless high speed cruising in the grand manner since its introduction on the R-Type chassis in 1952. Unlike the ordinary, factory-bodied, 'standard steel' R-Type, the Continental was bodied in the traditional manner and first appeared with what many enthusiasts consider to be the model's definitive style of coachwork - the lightweight, wind tunnel-developed fastback of H J Mulliner.

The Continental's performance figures would have been considered excellent for an out-and-out sports car, but for a full four/five seater saloon they were exceptional: a top speed of 120mph, 100mph achievable in third gear, 50mph reached in a little over 9 seconds and effortless cruising at the 'ton'. Built for export only at first, the Continental was, once delivery charges and local taxes had been paid, almost certainly the most expensive car in the world as well as the fastest capable of carrying four adults and their luggage. Eulogising about the new S-Series cars, introduced in April 1955, Autocar wrote, 'the latest Bentley model offers a degree of safety, comfort and performance that is beyond the experience and perhaps even the imagination of the majority of the world's motorists.'

This 1957 Bentley Fastback will be supplied as a fully restored (body off) car, re built to factory specification. The restoration process so far, see’s the vehicle chassis having received a full nut and bolt mechanical restoration. The chassis has already been bead blasted and inspected. Any corrosion or weak sections have been re-made. The engine, gear box, differential and radiator were re-built by Bentley specialists ‘ Padgett Motor Engineers ‘ to the highest quality, including all nuts, bolts, linkages receiving nickel plating. The engine rebuild features high quality parts throughout, such as the Omega pistons. The radiator has been re-corded to resolve the over heating issues these vehicles suffered with.

New brake drums, rear leaf springs and front springs have been fitted. New pipework and hoses throughout. The chassis is currently booked in to have its full stainless steel exhaust system fitted by Bentley specialists, ‘Service Centre’. The body of the vehicle has been hand stripped back to bare aluminium, revealing a good solid shell, requiring some very minor work, prior to entering the body shop for final preparation and ‘dry fit’. Once the shell is painted within our ‘in house’ state of the art paint shop, assembly will begin by ‘marrying’ the body to the chassis, ready for body assembly. The brightwork, is to be re-chromed throughout and the paintwork to be finished in its original velvet green, which under certain lights can almost appear black.

The trim will be remade throughout, using traditional techniques featured in the factory, finished using Connolly Vaumol hide, Wilton wool is to be used for the carpets & West of England cloth for the head lining. The interior wood veneer is original and in very good condition, this will be re-lacquered and polished, to bring it up to the standard with the rest of the restoration. The vehicle will be delivered to yourself following rigorous road testing and will be supplied with a 1 year warranty on parts & labour. A hard cover restoration album showcasing the restoration of the vehicle will also be included.

The history file features some nice records, that will accompany the restored vehicle very well. Below is a brief overview of the file:
• Copies of the original Jack Barclay Sales records
• The Mulliner records
• Construction & Test records folder
• A good collection of MOT certificates that verify the milage of 90,000
• A selection of early service records
• Around 11 years of SORN records from 2003, showing the vehicle being in storage, prior to the current owner who commissioned the restoration


Please contact us to arrange a viewing of this fantastic motor car.