Classic British Luxury! Beautiful Colors, Smooth 4.9L inline 6, Auto, PS, Wow

1957 Bentley S1 -- Additional Info:

Cars handcrafted by the handfuls and assembled only for the lucky few are always part of an upper-class dream. So the obtainable price on this 1957 Bentley S1 saloon should already have you interested. And it only gets better when you see that it's been treated with proper care, so the two-tone paint is in great shape, the leather is supple, and the 4.9L inline-6 runs very smoothly. We don't have to tell you about this British car's... elegance and refined opulence. The flying B on the hood is like an announcement to an unyielding commitment to the best of everything. What we do get to tell you is that this example has upheld those standards, and even though it's been driven and enjoyed throughout the years, it still presents well and garners a ton of attention. Silver and black represents true understated British elegance, and the metallic flake in the silver finish looks awesome under the sun. It's not over-boisterous, but instead shows a sophistication in the level of gloss and shine that it radiates, even after all of these years. The body panels hold their precision craftsmanship, which allows the two-tone to almost dance across the curves. These were graceful cars that knew how to let the design fully develop, with a line that starts at the headlight, and it runs uninterrupted until it meets the sporty arc at the trunk. Bright work is carefully crafted, and you see that in the curves of the bumper guards, intricate taillight arrangement, and the hallmark waterfall grille. What makes this a true upper-class classic is all the detail work, with wheels that include the two-tone finish, door handles that get lost within the side brightwork, fender-mounted side mirrors, and beautiful wrap-around bumpers fore and aft. This is a true British classic, meaning you'll proudly drive from the right-hand side, which everyone across the pond will argue is the "correct" side. But the true satisfaction comes from the elegant atmosphere this car provides inside. The supple dark red leather and plush carpeting give it instant sophistication, and as nice as it is, we believe it was certainly reupholstered at some point. And the real walnut wood that dominates the dash and flows onto the door panels gives this a true warmth that the British coach builders perfected a long time ago. The rear is just as elegantly appointed, because after all, in a car of this caliber the owner is not necessarily the driver, and this particular Bentley spent time as a livery vehicle for high-class occasions. There are even fold-down tray tables out back to go along with the slide-out tray up front, so you can re-create the Grey Poupon commercial. But more than just classic elegance, this one has been subtly upgraded to remain comfortable in modern times, with a modern A/C system added to the cabin, although it does need to be serviced to operate properly. Out back the trunk is enormous and carries a full-size spare and jack set just in case. Under the classic butterfly-style hood is the famous 4.9L Inline-6 that was always beloved because it's fast, relatively economical, and cheaper to maintain than its successor V8 that was later introduced by Rolls-Royce and Bentley in 1959. This powertrain helped usher in a new era of quiet but powerful motors at Rolls-Royce/Bentley, and the S1 was the launching pad. Utilizing the sizeable displacement, dual SU carburetors, and lightweight construction, the power is ample and the S1 accelerates nicely and simply floats down the road. With this legacy, it's great to see this motor still have all the correct pieces (and even the block itself is suspected to be original to the car) but moreover, it retains the smooth quality you demand from a Bentley. The engine bay isn't dressed for show, neither is the undercarriage, but it's solid, honest, and has nothing to hide. That level of ease and rolling opulence is continued with smooth power steering, large brakes, and a correct 4-speed automatic transmission that shifts smoothly. Stock, color-matched Bentley wheels finish the look and are wrapped in 235/75/15 Hankook whitewall radials all around. Documented with maintenance records, this rare Bentley S1 is a fine driver-quality example of British engineering at its finest. If you want to make an entrance, it doesn't get much better than this. Call now!