1955 Bentley S1 Continental Drophead Coupé by Park Ward
- Engine
- Six-cylinder, smooth high-output design
- Colour
- Silver with blue accents
A 1955/1956 Bentley S1 Continental Drophead Coupé by Park Ward, chassis BC54LAF, is among only thirty-one left-hand-drive examples bodied in this bespoke open configuration. Delivered new through New York dealer J.S. Inskip in May 1956 to Thomas D. Neelands Jr. — a financier involved in the founding of United Airlines and Beechcraft — the car remained in his hands until 1971. It subsequently passed through two further owners before entering its present custodian's care in 1988, during which time it received a cosmetic restoration and has been preserved in a climate-controlled private museum.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$1,155,000
- —Auction saleSold US$1,655,000
- 1956-05-11 → 1971Factory deliveryThomas D. Neelands Jr.full documentation
Took delivery via New York dealer J.S. Inskip; a wealthy entrepreneur who helped found United Airlines and backed Beechcraft's formation. Retained the car for roughly fifteen years.
- 1971 → 1971Acquisition unknownWilliam S. Paysonpartial documentation
Resident of Southport, Connecticut; held the car only briefly before passing it on the same year.
- 1971 → 1988Acquisition unknownLeon Levinepartial documentation
Based in Schenectady, New York; maintained the car for an extended period before the current consignor acquired it.
- 1988 →Acquisition unknownCurrent consignorpartial documentation
Had the car cosmetically restored by Vantage Motorworks in Miami, refinished in Scarlet and Claret with beige leather; subsequently displayed in a climate-controlled private museum.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- —RestorationVantage Motorworks
Cosmetic restoration carried out after the consignor's acquisition in 1988, resulting in the current Scarlet and Claret exterior finish paired with a beige leather interior.
Workshop located in Miami, Florida. Work was purely cosmetic in scope; mechanical sorting was noted as advisable at time of sale.
- —Service
Ongoing routine maintenance to preserve cosmetic condition during long-term storage in a climate-controlled private museum.
Mechanical recommissioning was recommended prior to active use at the time the car was offered for sale.
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