Vehicle Description
West Coast Classics are proud to present a very rare example of
this one long time southern California owner car since the mid
sixties (and which is still titled in the original California 'Pink
Slip' from the 1960's) 1961 Bentley S2 (Series II) 4 door V8 sedan
with factory air conditioning an even rarer Left Hand Drive (LHD)
US import configuration body and one of only 1,863 S2 models ever
built. For those who are unfamiliar, the Bentley S2 and the Silver
Cloud II were absolutely identical with both vehicles hand built at
the Rolls Royce factory in Crewe, England with the only differences
being their nameplates, radiator and mascots. In the 1970's a few
Bentley S2's/3's were imported from England to the U.S. and
converted with the Silver Cloud II/III radiator, mascot and
nameplates as the Bentley was not as appreciated or as coveted as
it's identical cousin the Rolls Royce, making these original
survivor Bentley's all the more rare and desirable than their
cousins! This particular example is finished in an 'Antique White'
color complete with hand painted 'Dark Green' pin stripes matched
to a full 'Connolly Dark Green' leather interior and carpeting. The
car has it's original Mohair headliner and Connolly leather which
was exclusively used in Rolls Royce and Bentley's and came from
unfenced cows which produced unblemished hides and is incredibly
durable and long lasting. This car was repainted some years ago and
please note does now have some minor signs of wear with a few minor
paint chips and scratches noticeable upon close inspection. All the
chrome work, including the original and now very rare Bentley
grille and the front and rear bumpers, is in very good condition
and the car has it's original spare wheel and original jack still
located in their rightful place of storage in the trunk
compartment. The leather interior and carpet shows very well with
only very minor signs of patina and the original wood is all
excellent. The car drives well with the original 6.2L V8 engine
being extremely strong and with the car drives as straight as an
arrow with no strange road wobbles, shakes or rattles and it is a
truly remarkable and responsive daily driver! The car has very rare
factory air conditioning, power steering, power windows, power
brakes, adjustable ride control, Lucas fog lights, electric window
defogger, twin picnic tables and a mohair headliner.For those who
are unfamiliar, Rolls Royce no longer exists as it had for over one
hundred years - this is one of the last in the original line of
cars built in the legendary Rolls Royce factory in Crewe, England
with a quality and craftsmanship that far surpasses that of today's
mass produced models with many BMW parts - this is a rare
opportunity to own a piece of automobile history, from a time when
Rolls Royce and Bentley were truly building the world's finest
motor cars. This increasingly desirable and legendary marque, the
Bentley S2, boasts the all aluminum powerful 6.2L V8 engine with
the cylinder block and heads cast in aluminum alloy and hydraulic
tappets operate the overhead valves. The engine has a compression
ratio of 8 to 1 and is fitted with twin carburetors with automatic
choke. Along with it's tall grille and Bentley 'Flying B' hood
ornament mascot on the hood, the S2 is a moving work of art from a
time when Rolls-Royce and Bentley were famously building the "Best
Cars in the World" with the craftsmanship and quality of these cars
obviously speaking for themselves.It is becoming increasingly hard
to find such rare original examples as these models become thinner
and thinner on the ground and even harder to find as time has its
way with most of them and with only some 1,863 Bentley S2 models
built between it's 1959-62 production years and especially
considering how numerous numbers of these rare Bentley's were
tragically and unceremoniously 'butchered' (converted) into Rolls
Royce's by replacing their beautiful grilles and hubcaps and
mascots! So bid with confidence, this will no doubt prove a
fabulous investment for the astute investor, Bentley or Rolls Royce
enthusiast or collector to restore completely or simply a great
daily driver or weekend toy as it is for the discerning luxury
classic car owner of one of the last remaining Bentley S2's!