Bentley S1 Continental Park Ward Drophead Coupé Adaptation

Chassis BC49CH is one of 45 right-hand-drive S1 Continentals that Park Ward bodied to its Design Number 701. It left the factory in November 1957 as a fixed head coupé, delivered to A. Beatty and first registered UXF 100. Beatty is understood to have been the mining magnate Sir Alfred Chester Beatty.

In 1990 a previous owner had A&B Price restore it and convert it to drophead coupé form. Drophead Continentals are among the most sought-after cars of the era, and a small number of fixed heads have been converted this way. The page puts spending since the conversion at over £200,000.

The original engine has been overhauled by Padgett Motor Engineers, who also worked on the automatic gearbox and the back axle. The hood has been re-profiled and renewed in dark green mohair. The interior upholstery, boot and wood veneers have been refurbished, with SimTrim of Spalding bills of £50,000 or more. Inside there is a Becker Mexico stereo and an apparently unused picnic set. No mileage is stated.