1963 BENTLEY S3 CONTINENTAL COUPÉ PAR H.J. MULLINER PARK WARD LTD

Dutch title
Chassis n° BC86LXA

- Sold new to a well-known American multi-millionaire
- Always very well maintained, in excellent original condition
- Supremely elegant model

Production of the Bentley S3 Continental began in 1962; it was powered by the company's 6230cc V8 already used on the S2, which was an excellent replacement for the 4887cc in-line six fitted to the first Continental. Production of the S3 Continental came to an end in 1965, after 312 cars had left the factory in Crewe. The Continental models were only sold with special bodies. The work of the coachbuilder Park Ward was characterized by the continuous line between the front and rear wings and the slanted headlamp surrounds, dubbed ‘Chinese Eyes’.
This magnificent Bentley with bodywork by H.J. Mulliner Park Ward was delivered new by the American importer J.S. Inskip to Gerald Cantor. Famous in the USA and in the world of art, Cantor started out selling hot dogs in his university and created the system of on-screen trading on Wall Street. He became a multi- millionaire and is considered the leading collector of Rodin sculptures. The Bentley was intended for use at his home in Beverly Hills, an American-style neo-classical ‘chateau’. He used the car sparingly and kept it all his life. It has several options, including electric windows, Sundym glass, an electric aerial, a ‘Made in England’ plate and whitewall tyres. Its combination of colours has not changed, with dark grey over light grey paint and a black leather interior. When its distinguished owner died in 1996, the car ended up at the renowned marque specialist, Vantage Motorworks in Miami, before crossing the Atlantic in 2014, when it was bought by a Dutch dealer and sold on to the top Kuwaiti collector. As soon as he bought the Bentley, its current owner sent it to Fernandez in Brussels to restore it to its former glory, just as when it left the factory. It is a remarkably elegant example, in excellent original condition and with only 69,100 miles from new. Its engine runs silently, as befits a Bentley of this standing.
These Bentley coupés represent the very best that was produced
at the time; to travel in one today, cocooned in its ultra-luxurious interior, is an unrivalled pleasure, thanks to its comfort and smoothness.

Photo © Philipp Löhmann

The auction of this lot will take place on Friday 18 March 2022.
https://www.artcurial.com/fr/lot-1963-bentley-s3-continental-coupe-par-hj-mulliner-park-ward-ltd-4134-210