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!
