Bentley S1 Continental H.J. Mulliner Fastback

The S1 Continental arrived in April 1955 on a chassis three inches longer than the R Type Continental's, and the H.J. Mulliner fastback, Design No 7400, is among its best-known bodies. This car, chassis BC53AF, is the seventeenth of 97 right-hand-drive examples built to that design. It was completed in January 1956 in Circassian Blue with a blue leather interior, and is now finished in Circassian Blue with grey leather.

Its first owner was a Hull trawler-fleet company, Thomas Hamling & Co, and the car was bought for the personal use of one of its directors. The rear seat cushion was lowered from new to give more headroom. Later owners include a London antique dealer, and the penultimate keeper held it for about twenty years before selling in 2018.

The current owner had Frank Dale carry out a broad programme of work. It included a full mechanical review, period-style power steering, a reworked air-conditioning system, attention to the brakes and suspension, a repaint and re-chroming of all the brightwork. In 2024 it won its class at the Bentley Drivers Club Concours and the Bentley Trophy at the Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court. It comes with chassis cards, tools and extensive records. No mileage is stated.