Beschreibung:

Bentley's magnificent Continental sports saloon has been synonymous with effortless high speed cruising in the grand manner since its introduction on the R-Type chassis in 1952. Unlike the ordinary, factory-bodied, 'standard steel' R-Type, the Continental was bodied in the traditional manner and first appeared with what many enthusiasts consider to be the model's definitive style of coachwork - the lightweight, wind tunnel-developed fastback of H J Mulliner. The Continental's performance figures would have been considered excellent for an out-and-out sports car, but for a full four/five seater saloon they were exceptional: a top speed of 120mph, 100mph achievable in third gear, 50mph reached in a little over 9 seconds and effortless cruising at the 'ton'. Built for export only at first, the Continental was, once delivery charges and local taxes had been paid, almost certainly the most expensive car in the world as well as the fastest capable of carrying four adults and their luggage. 'The Bentley is a modern magic carpet which annihilates great distances and delivers the occupants well-nigh as fresh as when they started,' declared Autocar. With the arrival of the final generation of six-cylinder cars - the all-new Silver Cloud and Bentley S-Type - the Continental lost some of its individuality but none of its exclusivity. Eulogising about the new S-Series cars, introduced in April 1955, Autocar wrote, 'the latest Bentley model offers a degree of safety, comfort and performance that is beyond the experience and perhaps even the imagination of the majority of the world's motorists.' Later, in October that same year, the Bentley Continental became available on the 'S' chassis. 'It brings Bentley back to the forefront of the world's fastest cars,' Autocar remarked of the H J Mulliner-styled fastback which, arguably, was the quickest four/five-seater saloon of its day. The S-Type's new box-section chassis incorporated improved brakes and suspension and an enlarged (to 4,887cc) and more powerful version of the existing inlet-over-exhaust six-cylinder engine, which for the first time was identical in specification in its Rolls and Bentley forms. The Continental version came with shorter radiator and higher gearing and, for a time at least, could be ordered with right-hand 'change, manual transmission. As had been the case with the original R-Type, the new S-Type Continental was only ever available as a coachbuilt car, the designs produced by independent coachbuilders for the S1 Continental chassis being among the era's most stylish, although – arguably – none ever improved on H J Mulliner's sublime original. Right-hand drive chassis number 'BC93AF' was delivered new in the UK in August 1956 to its first owner, one Horace C Lindsay, and registered 'SYE 554'. The accompanying copy chassis card records the original colour scheme as Broken White with red leather interior, and lists two further owners, the last being a Col A Davis of Swansea (from July 1963). Partially restored, the Bentley benefits from a major engine service and is described by the vendor as in generally very good condition, with excellent chassis and body and a nicely patinated interior. The car is offered with full history, sundry invoices, Swiss Carte Grise and Contrôle Technique. Le châssis n° BC93AF à conduite à droite fut vendu neuf au Royaume-Uni en août 1956 à son premier propriétaire, M. Horace C. Lindsay, et immatriculé « SYE 554 ». Le fiche de fabrication précise qu'elle était peinte en blanc cassé avec intérieur en cuir rouge et indique deux autres propriétaires, le dernier à partir de juillet 1963. En partie restaurée, la Bentley qui a bénéficié d'une importante révision du moteur est décrite par le vendeur comme étant en très bon état général avec un châssis et une carrosserie en excellente condition et un intérieur élégamment patiné. Cette magnifique automobile est accompagnée de son historique complet, de ses factures d'entretien, de sa carte grise suiss