- One of the 33 LHD cars built

- Sold new in Paris, owned by the same family for the last 37 years

- More than 20,000 € spent on recent work

The term ‘Continental’ transformed a Bentley into an exceptional motorcar. First used in 1952 with the R-Type Continental, it met the demands of well-heeled customers by offering a high class of car that provided an exceptional combination of elegance, comfort and power. Not only was the Continental the fastest four-seat coupé in the world, famously reaching 120mph (190kph), but it also set the record for the highest price: at 7,800,000 francs, it cost as much as eight DS Citroëns!

The Continental name was then applied to the new S-Type Bentley, whose 4.9-litre six-cylinder engine was a model of flexibility. 431 Continental S1 chassis were built, and only 33 coupés like the example presented here were produced in left-hand drive.

As its works production card confirms, chassis no. BC19LDJ was delivered on 26 August 1957 to be bodied by Park Ward, and was completed on 9 December that year. Sent to France, it was sold new three days later to Jacques Politis through Franco-Britannic Autos, the Bentley dealer in Paris. The detailed bill also records that power steering was fitted. The elegant Bentley was unearthed in the Paris area in 1988 by Jacques Helleu, the artistic director of the Chanel perfume house and a lover of refined motorcars, and has stayed in his family until today. Having undergone an older restoration, the body has a delicate patina which is all part of its charm, as is the lovely beige leather upholstery. After being laid up for a few years, the car was given a mechanical overhaul by Americo in 2024 and a few minor faults were taken care of by the Tisserand workshop. The total cost of the work exceeded 20,000 €. Our test drive in Paris showed the engine to be pleasant to drive and reliable. Over and above the model’s intrinsic beauty, the consistent overall patina of this example takes its elegance to a higher level, that possessed by those cars whose appearance tells a story with discretion. Few cars offer such a harmonious blend of rarity, nobility and elegance.

Photos © Alexis Ruben