For Sale: 1959 Bentley S1 Empress in Newport Beach, California

The Empress
1959 Bentley S1 All-Aluminum Hooper Carriage Works Body
Long Wheel Base, Chassis #LALB29
This very special and unique car began its life as a long-wheel-base S1, built by Rolls Royce. It was then delivered in chassis form to Hooper Body
Works for its completion. Its body was then fabricated entirely of aluminum, on its LWB chassis. Hooper had been a coachbuilder for more than 100
years, and was the coachbuilder for the Royal Family.
This automobile had been ordered by a wealthy Oklahoma oilman, whom had it built to his specifications. The body is fabricated entirely out of
aluminum, on an 18-inch stretched frame. Since the owner insisted on wearing his cowboy hat in the rear seat, it was lowered by two inches and the
roof was raised another two inches. As the car came with air conditioning mounted in the rear, he had another unit installed in the front.
This Bentley with its Hooper body is one of two built in 1959. In fact, as Hooper ceased business in 1959, this car #LALB29
is recorded as the last Bentley this prestigious coachbuilder ever produced. It was considered Hooper's ultimate
achievement, for its graceful elegant lines, and was named The Empress.
Special features of this beautiful Bentley include:
-- Left-hand drive for the United States
-- A factory-installed front air conditioning unit in addition to the standard rear air conditioning unit
-- Special inlay wood on the fascia, door panels and rear trays
-- Standard automatic transmission
-- Power-assist brakes
-- Power steering
This is an original unrestored 40,000-mile automobile. It's ownership from new is documented. In 1990, the second owner, a close friend of the
original owner Mr. Gus Delaney purchased the car, had it resprayed and the leather seat tops replaced with original Connelly hides. The present
collector/owner has carefully maintained this Bentley during his stewardship. It has been driven weekly, but sparingly, and performs as could be
expected from a low-mileage, originally made automobile.
The Empress is truly Unforgettable.