Vehicle Description
With the arrival of the Silver Cloud/S-Series in 1955, Roll-Royce
and Bentley fully embraced the process of factory coachwork, which
allowed for higher production volume and a healthier bottom-line.
Of course, the factory would still accommodate special requests and
a few well-heeled individuals ordered their S-Series and Silver
Clouds with bespoke bodies. Like Rolls-Royce, the second generation
of Bentley's S-Series was offered in both standard and
long-wheelbase forms, the majority of which were fitted with
Standard Steel Saloon coachwork. Ultimately, Bentley produced just
fifty-seven long-wheelbase S2s, of which a mere six received custom
coachwork from new. Chassis number LLBA9 is a genuinely unique
motorcar and one of the six long-wheelbase S2s delivered to an
outside coachbuilder. The story of this remarkable automobile is
shrouded in much speculation about the identity of the person who
commissioned its construction. According to documents sourced via
the Rolls-Royce Foundation, LLBA9 was first ordered via New
York-dealer J.S. Inskip. It was equipped in left-hand drive and
delivered ex-factory to Wendler Karosseriebau of Germany; a
coachbuilder with a long-standing tradition of building fascinating
and beautiful designs of the highest quality. Wendler's first motor
bodies were built in 1919, and they also supplied bodies for
commercial trucks. Their portfolio is genuinely fascinating and
includes many highly advanced streamlined designs on BMW,
Mercedes-Benz and even Ford V8 chassis. Perhaps their most famous
relationship was with Porsche, for whom Wendler bodied several
road-going 356s in addition to creating the svelte coachwork for
the legendary 550 Spyder, RSK, and RS61 racing cars. The order for
LLBA9 was curiously placed in the name of the buyer's agent,
factory records do not show the purchaser's name, and his address
is listed as the New York Yacht Club! Anonymity was apparently
vital to him, though the thoroughly unique body he commissioned
seems to contradict that idea. Incidentally, this was not the first
car Wendler bodied for this particular mystery client. They had
previously created a gorgeous one-off estate car based on the
Mercedes-Benz 300 d "Adenauer." The buyer's request for an estate
car directly from Mercedes was politely declined, so he
commissioned Wendler to handle the conversion which was done
masterfully. When it came time to replace the 300, Mercedes again
refused to build an estate car on the W112 300-series chassis. So,
he turned to Bentley to supply a coachbuilder-ready chassis.
Wendler followed their client's wishes directly, creating a unique
estate car (or shooting brake as it were) by grafting a Mercedes
W112 300 body onto the Bentley chassis. Wendler reinforced the
panels, and many of the factory Mercedes fittings were used, such
as the lights and exterior trim. A significant number of parts had
to be fabricated by hand to suit the scale of the Bentley chassis
and the new shooting brake configuration. The result of the effort
is a remarkable machine that is instantly recognizable as both a
Mercedes-Benz and a Bentley, simultaneously. Perhaps the most
distinguishing features are the "Heckflosse" tail fins that were a
hallmark of the W112, which blend gracefully into the bodywork. The
designer cleverly integrated bullet-style tail lights (sourced from
a 1960 Buick) which are better suited than the square Mercedes
lights. The proud Bentley radiator shell remains, and it is flanked
by a pair of vertically-stacked US-market Mercedes headlamps.
According to the original chassis order, a set of standard front
wings were shipped from the factory to Germany; however it doesn't
appear that a single scrap of metal was used from them. The car's
appearance is quite imposing, and we find it curious that someone
who worked so hard to remain anonymous would order such an
extravagant motorcar. The first owner gifted the Bentley to a
museum (anonymously, of course) where it remained for some time
before being sold overseas. It then returned to New York in the
1980s where, amazingly, it was reunited with its Mercedes 300
Wendler stablemate. From 2012-2013, LLBA9 was comprehensively
restored to concours condition by Automotive Restorations, Inc. of
Stratford, CT. It has been returned to its original silver-gray
color over an orange-red interior, as indicated on the RROC chassis
card. The quality of Wendler's construction shines through in the
precise body fit, exquisite detailing, and the effortless manner in
which the doors close. Paintwork is gorgeous, and the panels
straight and properly aligned. Exterior trim appears to be all
Mercedes; however many pieces were handmade in period specifically
for this car. It rides on a set of whitewall tires as originally
specified on the build order, and steel wheels are dressed with
factory Bentley wheel covers. The opulent cabin has been completely
restored using beautiful Connolly leather. Wendler cleverly blended
the Bentley controls and instruments with a Mercedes-Benz dash. The
dials sit in a bespoke central fascia surrounded with oak trim in
place of the typical walnut veneer. The oak trim - subtle nod to
the car's American roots - repeats on the windscreen surround, door
tops, and the cargo area floor. The fittings and switchgear appear
to be off-the-shelf Mercedes items, but apparently, they are all
bespoke items made by the coachbuilder to mimic the factory parts.
It is equipped with a sunroof and a period-appropriate Becker
Europa stereo. The beautifully crafted interior melds British and
Teutonic sensibilities, while maintaining a unique character that
would be equally at home parked up at the New York Yacht Club's
44th St. Clubhouse or Harbor Court in Newport, RI. Mechanically in
excellent order, LLBA9 drives as expected of a Bentley S2, with
seemingly an even greater sense of solidity. The engine bay has
been fully detailed to a very high standard and shows little in the
way of use. Upon completion, it debuted at the 2013 Amelia Island
Concours d'Elegance and shown at other events including Lime Rock's
Sunday in the Park Concours. With an intriguing history, this is an
exceptional luxury car that seamlessly blends opulence and
practicality. It has ample room for five passengers and all the
luggage they could carry, and its power and ability make it the
ideal tool for cross-country touring. The sale of this fascinating
Bentley represents a truly a one of a kind opportunity.
