Bentley S3 Sports Saloon

Click Here for Full Screen Image - Click Here to Download Image

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 October 1962 with the launch of the S3 at the Paris Motor Show. The S3 was outwardly very similar to the S2, the most-visible difference was a four-headlamp layout that paved the way for the radically new Bentley T1 in 1965. The interior was modified with individual seats for front passengers and increased leg room in the rear. It also 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.

Production of the Bentley S3 included 1,286 on the standard chassis and a further 32 long wheelbase versions. The final S3 was delivered in 1966, when the new Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow and Bentley T-series were readily available.

First registered in September 1965, this Bentley SIII appears to have been last MOTd in 1994 when it bore the registration mark 10 BGW. It joined the Stondon Collection in that year, the registration number changing to REG 243. Although this is recognised on the DVLA database, bidders are advised that, at the time of cataloguing, the V5C for this vehicle could not be readily located.

Detailed bills from Lex Mead for repairs and maintenance from 1972 to 1982 show that when they first started caring for the car it had covered 49,000 miles, a figure which increased to 130,000 miles by 1982 and by the time it was last used on the road in 1994, the odometer was reading just under 149,000 miles.

Now requiring recommissioning after its 20 year rest, this well presented and highly desirable SIII Bentley has been well maintained during the more active periods of its life and looks like a very worthwhile project for the summer months ahead.

AMENDMENT: The V5 for this vehicle is now present.