To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys' Monterey event, 15 - 17
August 2019.
Estimate:
$900,000 - $1,200,000
- The most desirable body style; one of 31 left-hand-drive
examples built
- Originally delivered to Oklahoma City businessman W.T. Hales
Jr.
- Single ownership since 1986; still finished in its original
color scheme
- Equipped with its original engine
- Offered with sets of road and hand tools
The most desirable catalogued body style on the S1 Continental
chassis was the drophead coupe by Park Ward, style no. 700. Unlike
the majority of Bentley convertibles produced in this era, this
style was not an "adaptation" from factory design stampings, but
rather a fully custom body, built from the ground up by Park Ward's
craftsmen, hand-crafted in aluminum. It is distinguished by smooth,
subtle body lines, with the long, fully "flow-through" fenders that
flow from the front to the rear "hips," and rear fenders that kick
up slightly to form tiny tail fins.
Park Ward built this design on only 31 left-hand-drive S1
Continental chassis, and the survivors are among the most fiercely
prized of all post-war Bentleys, featured in some of the world's
finest collections of grand touring automobiles.
The example offered here, no. BC14LGN, was originally finished in
the timeless, subtle color scheme of Sand and Sable, with beige
upholstery and brown top, and outfitted to the ultimate
specification with automatic transmission, power top and windows,
Radiomobile radio with power aerial, and full Rolls-Royce
air-conditioning. It was ordered through the Thoroughbred Car
Company of Oklahoma City by local resident William Taylor Hales Jr.
Mr. Hales was the son of a major Oklahoma oil and real estate baron
who had played a role in developing downtown Oklahoma City and
building the modern stockyards. The business address listed on the
Bentley's build cards was the family's own Hales Building, while
Hales Jr.'s own residence was modeled after Jefferson's
Monticello.
According to the build cards, delivery of the car was made to Mr.
Hales at Lille Hall, indicating that the original owner collected
the car in Europe. He enjoyed his new automobile around London for
twelve days, after which Bentley arranged to drive it to
Southampton for its departure to a new home in the United
States.
The next known owner recorded, in 1984, is James R. Williams, head
of Cincinnati's Western & Southern Life Insurance and member of a
family that had been Rolls-Royce and Bentley customers back to the
days of the Springfield factory.
The current owners acquired the Bentley from Williams via Vantage
Motorworks in 1986, and it has remained part of their superb
collection since. An older but well-presented restoration, still
finished in its original color scheme, it features an upgraded
radio but is otherwise to its original specifications. Over the
years it has been regularly driven and had routine oil changes. The
brakes were recently overhauled and a partial new exhaust fitted,
while new seat belts were installed several years ago. The car is
still equipped with factory road- and hand-tool kits in the trunk
compartment, as well as a top boot.
This would be a lovely addition to a new owner's stable, with a
rich history with one of the West's most interesting families.To
view this car and others currently consigned to this auction,
please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/mo19.
