Vehicle Description
Park Ward & Co. has long been integral to the fabric of Rolls-Royce
and Bentley motor cars. Founded in 1919, the coachbuilding firm
quickly earned a reputation for impeccable style and quality, and
by 1930, up to 90% of their bodies were for destined Rolls-Royce or
Bentley chassis. Rolls-Royce partially acquired Park Ward in the
late 30s, and by 1952 Park Ward's styling department had moved to
Crewe to be at the center of new car development. In the early
1950s, Park Ward created some particularly attractive two-door
designs for Bentley's new high-performance R-Type Continental
chassis. When the much-improved S-Type Continental replaced it at
the end of 1955, they tweaked and modernized the styling to suit
the revised platform. Design number 701 is an elegant two-door
fixed-head coupe that shared elements of the Standard Steel Saloon
but with a slimmer, cleaner, and sportier character. Park Ward made
a few design variations, moving from individual taillights to
integrated taillights borrowed from the saloon and altering the
blind quarters with larger rear quarter lights on later iterations.
While the differences are subtle, each variant has a character of
its own while remaining distinctly Park Ward. Like most other Park
Ward bodies on the Continental chassis, the 701 Fixed-Head Coupe
was highly exclusive, with just 69 built in all. Chassis number
BC22LCH is one of only 24 left-drive "Design 701" coupes on the
S-Type Continental chassis. The saloon rear lamps neatly integrated
into the subtle tailfins identify this as one of the so-calledIssue
2cars. Resplendent in its original colors of Circassian Blue over
Beige hides, this is a superb Continental that's certain to please
the discriminating enthusiast. According to factory records, this
car was delivered in June 1957 to the Greek shipping magnate
Stavros Niarchos. Staying true to theContinentalname, the
billionaire businessman's glamorous new Bentley was his vehicle of
choice for his stays in Monaco and around the South of France. In
1961, Niarchos sold it to its second owner in Oxford, England, and
in 1999 it was acquired by the Rolls-Royce and Bentley specialists
Vantage Motorworks of Miami, Florida. It was described as a sound,
original car and was sold to a new owner who initiated its
restoration. When the project stalled, Vantage Motorworks welcomed
BC22LCH back to their fold in 2012 and completed the restoration to
their usual exceptional standards. Shortly after completion by
Vantage, the Bentley found a home with its most recent owner, who
has maintained it in superb condition in his private collection.
The paintwork is exquisitely finished, and the brightwork has been
restored to a high standard. It sits proudly on the road, with
proper color-matched wheel discs and wide-whitewall radial tires
for predictable handling in all conditions. The restoration's
quality is no more apparent than when you swing open the doors,
which operate with satisfying precision. Sculpted individual bucket
seats are trimmed in beige Connolly hides as per the original
specification. The blue Wilton wool carpets provide a striking
contrast to the leather while complementing the exterior paintwork.
In addition, the woodwork is truly exquisite, with finely detailed
striped banding and a glassy-smooth lacquer finish. This car is
superbly equipped for comfortable long-distance touring and
features a period-style Blaupunkt radio, properly ducted
limousine-style air conditioning with a modern Sanden compressor,
and power steering. The boot is fully trimmed in blue carpet and
houses the original jack, tire pump, and associated tools. Engine
bay detailing is up to similar standards, with the inline-six
finished to factory standards with black enamel on the valve cover,
air cleaner, S.U. carburetor bodies. The A/C compressor and
clutch-type cooling fan are worthwhile upgrades that ensure
reliable, comfortable running. There's little doubt the S1
Continental was one of the finest cars in the world, blending
meticulous engineering with old-world craftsmanship and
sophisticated styling. After an early life spent in Monaco,
followed by a superlative restoration, this magnificent example is
back to its former splendor and remains fit for a wide range of
events, concours, and cross-continental journeys. Offers welcome
and trades considered For additional details please view this
listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/6964-1957-bentley-s1-continental-park-ward-coupe/