1957 Bentley S1 Continental Fastback Sports Saloon by H.J. Mulliner
- Engine
- 4.9L F-head inline-six, ~178 bhp, enlarged valves and carburetor
- Colour
- Saffron over Sandstone
Chassis BC96LBG is a 1957 Bentley S1 Continental fitted with H.J. Mulliner's fastback sports saloon coachwork (Body Style 7400), one of only 22 such cars built in left-hand-drive configuration. Delivered in April 1957 with an extensive list of bespoke specifications, it has passed through a small number of notable American owners over seven decades. Restored during Samuel Ornstein's tenure in a Saffron over Sandstone colour scheme, the car has earned multiple RROC National First Prizes and concours victories at Palm Beach and Amelia Island in the same restoration.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$781,000
- 1957-04-18 → 1957-04-27Factory deliveryWilliam Brewsterfull documentation
Original recipient of the car, based in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, and an heir to the Standard Oil fortune. He specified numerous bespoke features but parted with the car within days of delivery.
- 1957-04-27 → 1977-10-01Private saleGregory B. Smithpartial documentation
Retained the car for over two decades before selling to the next owner.
- 1977-10-01 →Private saleSamuel Ornsteinpartial documentation
A well-known Rolls-Royce and Bentley collector based in Edison, New Jersey. Had the car restored in its current Saffron over Sandstone color scheme during his tenure.
- 1993 →Private saleRichard Thomaspartial documentation
Based in Parsimony, New Jersey; subsequently passed the car to the next owner.
- Date unknownPrivate saleSteven Wolfpartial documentation
A prominent Florida-based collector who had the interior freshened in 2006, including new floor coverings, in preparation for concours appearances.
- Date unknownPrivate saleOrin Smithpartial documentation
Acquired the car from Steven Wolf; current consignor.
Competition
- 1979Rolls-Royce Owners Club National MeetRROC National First Prize 1979First Prize
Awarded during Samuel Ornstein's ownership using the same restoration that was also recognized two decades later.
- 2000Rolls-Royce Owners Club National MeetRROC National First Prize 2000First Prize
Notably achieved with the same restoration as the 1979 award, reflecting consistent maintenance over the intervening years.
- 20072007 Palm Beach Concours d'EleganceFirst Prize
Appeared shortly after a freshened interior was completed in 2006 under Steven Wolf's ownership.
- 20072007 Amelia Island Concours d'EleganceFirst Prize
Entered alongside the Palm Beach event the same year, also taking top honors following the 2006 interior restoration.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2006Restoration
Interior freshened, including the fitting of mouton rug overlays on the floors, carried out in preparation for the 2007 concours season.
Commissioned by Steven Wolf.
- —Restoration
Full restoration completed in the Saffron over Sandstone colour combination during Samuel Ornstein's ownership; the quality was sufficient to win a top national concours prize in 1979 and again in 2000.
Precise year within the Ornstein ownership period is not stated in the prose.
- —ModificationVantage Motorworks
A high-capacity air conditioning system was fitted by Vantage Motorworks, integrated in a manner sympathetic to the original 1957 cabin.
Installation date not specified in the prose.
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