1956 Bentley S1 Continental Coupé by Park Ward
- Engine
- 4.9L inlet-over-exhaust inline-six
- Colour
- Black Pearl
A 1956 Bentley S1 Continental Coupé bodied by Park Ward Ltd, chassis BC59LAF, is one of only 33 left-hand-drive examples among the 185 Park Ward-bodied S1 Continentals built between 1955 and 1959. The car was delivered new to Lew Wasserman, the celebrated Hollywood power broker whose agency MCA came to control Universal Studios and Decca Records. Following a two-year high-quality restoration in the early 1990s, it retains its original engine, black pearl coachwork, and red leather interior, and is Belgian-registered.
Ownership
- 2020-10-11Auction saleSold €320,000 (≈ $352K)
- 1990 →Acquisition unknownPeter Fisherpartial documentation
London-based Bentley Continental specialist who purchased the car and undertook a two-year restoration on behalf of French collector Jean-Michel Signoles.
- Date unknownFactory deliveryLewis Robert 'Lew' Wassermanpartial documentation
Prominent Hollywood entertainment industry figure whose agency eventually controlled Universal Studios and Decca Records; took delivery as the first owner of this chassis.
- Date unknownPrivate saleJean-Michel Signolespartial documentation
Noted French collector and president of Goyard; the restoration was carried out at his behest, resulting in a high-quality outcome that has remained in excellent condition. Car registered in Belgium.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1990RestorationPeter Fisher
A comprehensive two-year restoration was undertaken, resulting in work of sufficient quality that the car was still considered concours-condition at time of cataloguing. The black pearl paintwork and original red leather interior were brought to a high standard.
Commissioned by Jean-Michel Signoles; completed around 1992.
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