Bentley Continental Flying Spur

When Bentley introduced its new S-Type Standard Steel saloon in 1955, the imperious machine drew gasps of admiration from the motoring press. “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,” gushed Autocar. "It's a modern magic carpet which annihilates great distances and delivers the occupants well-nigh as fresh as when they started."

Powered initially by a 4.9-litre straight-six, this was replaced with a much more effective all-alloy 6.2-litre V8 in the S2 model which appeared in 1959. Startlingly rapid for a stately home on wheels, it could surge to 60mph in under 12 seconds on its way to a top speed of 115mph – performance that could embarrass many contemporary sports cars. Things got even better in 1962 with the launch of the quad-headlamp S3 which had a higher compression engine and twin 2-inch SU carbs which added another 15bhp and reduced the 0-60 dash to under 11 seconds. Power steering and a Hydramatic 4-speed automatic gearbox now came as standard.

However, for the really well-heeled driver, Bentley also made available a Continental version of the S-Type which featured all-aluminium bodywork and revised gearing to create a continent-crushing limousine that had no equal. At first the Continental was only available as a two-door, but by 1957 customer demand led HJ Mulliner, via their designer Herbert Nye, to develop a four-door version called the Flying Spur. More streamlined, low-slung and sporty than the rather slab-sided standard saloon, it also had an even finer interior with superbly detailed veneers, a bigger boot and a price tag that only film stars and business tycoons could contemplate – Cary Grant, Jayne Mansfield and Harry Belafonte being typical Continental clientele. In all, just 282 Bentley Continental Flying Spurs were made, a mere 89 of them in S3 guise and the majority in left-hand drive.

The car on offer today is therefore an extremely exclusive beast indeed. An original right-hand drive S3, it was delivered in rolling chassis form to HJ Mulliner on 17th December 1965, as copies of the original build sheets in the history file confirm. Tested exactly three months later to the day, the car was finished in Valentine blue with off white hide. It was delivered to HR Owen Ltd in London for delivery to a Mr. Porter of J.E. Cohen and Sons Ltd, Tesco House, at a cost of over £6,500 (Porter was to become chairman of Tesco in 1974). Extras included white wall tyres, electric aerial, electric windows, special front seats and Marchal headlights with special wiring.

Nothing more is currently known about the car’s history until offered for sale through The Real Car Company. They imported it from a Japanese collector in 2008 and sold it to a resident of Jersey who was going to use the car there, however circumstances changed and it never left the mainland. The vendor purchased it from him and has been using it sparingly. A new improved prop shaft and wheel cylinders have kept the car in good running condition. At some point it has been re-sprayed white and the upholstery re-trimmed in champagne leather. An aftermarket air conditioner has also been installed, presumably when in Japan which could easily be removed to return the car to original specification.

MOT’d until March 2012, the vendor reports that this matching numbers car drives very well and is still the best way possible to cover huge distances in effortless luxury.