Like the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud, the Bentley S1 was a luxurious car befitting the lifestyles of the rich and famous. So, it’s a shame to see one from 1956 languishing in a driveway, exposed to the elements including snow and ice. The seller says it once ran and it’s a project that he or she expected to further, but that ship has sailed. Also, it’s said to have the rare sunroof option. Located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, this needy Bentley is available here on craigslist for $5,000 OBO. Thanks for this opulent tip, Henry Reinig!
The Bentley S1 was in production from 1955 until 1959 with just 3,000 or so copies assembled in less than five years. It was a variant of the Silver Cloud offered by Rolls. It’s noted for being the last production Bentley to have an independent chassis (Rolls, too). An inline-6 engine was used early on, displacing 298 hp with a 4-speed automatic transmission.
From the few photos provided, the body and paint here will need a lot of work. And who knows what things look like under the cover on the roof. We also don’t know the status of the interior or if there is an ample supply of Grey Poupon (get it?). Some of the trim pieces are missing and will replacements be hard to come by? This project looks like one for those not faint of heart. And you’d better have deep pockets, too.
Pardon me, do you have any Grey Pupon, and perhaps $60,000 to get my Bently in fighting shape?
…Bentley…
I can imagine how beautiful this once was. Silver and burgundy look great together. And I’m sure whatever the interior was, I’m guessing a high quality leather and wool carpet ( just guessing here) must have been quite a site. Its such a shame it got to this condition. It would take a lot I’m sure to get this one up to snuff again. Ut I hope it does. I think mid to late 50’s Rolls Royce and Bentleys are beautiful.
298 horses out of a 1956 straight 6? Is that right..? Impressive as heck if it is.
In Wiki, it’s the 298 CI, not HP.
Yes. Rolls-Royce refuses to disclose HP figures. They say they are ” sufficient”
180 HP for a ’56 Standard wheelbase, like I owned; Continental slightly more.
Hmmm, perhaps a resto-mod project with a 454 Chevy?
Oof! I feel the bank account vaporizing just looking at this poor Bentley.
Baby you can drive my car,,,the late unbelievably great John Lennon drove a ’56 Bentley, similar only painted wild colors. The world lost an incredible person that fateful day.
My experience with one, the old man had a friend, Doc Schenkerman, although I’m not sure what kind of doctor he actually was, he had a Bentley similar to this. One day, the old man says he wants me to look at Docs car, making an odd noise. Fine. Doc drove, I listened, “there, hear it?” he said. I said, well, I hear the clock ticking, nothing else. The only time I rode in those fantastic cars.
Sorry Howard – like most, I usually enjoy your your comments but my B.S. meter went off the scale this time. While the statement about the loudest sound being the ticking of the clock at 60 mph, that was just advertising hyperbole. In reality you have wind noise, road/tire noise, engine noise just like any other car, but maybe a but more subdued. I have personally owned over 300 Bentley and Rolls-Royce automobiles and driven even more.
If you have deep pockets and you want to bring this car back, go for it! If I was given this car, I wouldn’t know what to do with it. It’s not like an MGB where you can just do a ‘backyard’ job, have a good driver and not lose your shirt. It’s not worth storing. Maybe that is why it is outside. It looks to be one of those cars that doesn’t fit in any market! The rich don’t want it, the poor don’t want it and everyone else probably won’t take the chance!!
Those old Rolls and Bentleys are in that never land of cars that don’t command much attention even if they are in perfect shape. If one was kept in decent storage, maybe in 20-30 years it would be something that people would see as a classic from the golden age of IC motors.
These are beautiful looking cars, but not sure if its worth restoring given the resale value (~$50k restored) and its current condition. Even more true if you can’t get it running/shifting or if the un-pictured interior is in rough shape.
Honestly, this is one that would make for a cool patina hotrod if you left the body somewhat alone. Throw an LS and 4L80 in it, modern or reupholstered seats, update the suspension if needed. It’d be the classy brit version of an old Mercury that’s just meant for cruising. It’d be great for taking to cars & coffee or on the HRPT.
I know that not everyone would agree, but having had cars that’s hard/impossible to source parts for makes driving it so much more stressful. It’d best of both world with the unique body and reliable/easy powertrain to source parts for.
SamY- 100% agree. This poor girl is too far gone to restore, and they’re not bringing the money at auction. This is a perfect candidate for a resto-mod.
Nothing wrong with Chevy power in this car. Whats the alternative? The junkyard? Out of thousands of cars, you’d be the only one in a Bentley
CT Dave
When I was in college I worked in a small body shop. We took on a paint job for a Rolls Royce of this era. What a disaster, we were sorry we ever agreed to do it. It had to be stripped the lacquer paint was cracked and was so thick it was almost impossible to remove. Much of it was over aluminum which just created more issues also the owner knew nothing about cars and couldn’t understand the challenges.
More questions than answers. RHD or LHD? Where’s the back bumper? Trunk and floors solid? Perfect candidate for a mechanical upgrade if it’s LHD.
Right hand drive and plenty of room to store packeges would make it great for a rural postal person. no need to restore it just get it running and driving again
I don’t mean to be hyper critical here, but so many wrong assumptions and statements: 1) Parts are instantly available and notes expensive as everyone seems to think. Transmission is basically a GM 4-speed Hydramatic. Engine uses the same S.U. and Lucas parts you will find in any other British carof the period. 2) Value – a 1956 S1 Bentley is at the bottom of the heap – no power steering in ’56 but it really needs it. Engine has less power than just a year or two newer. 1956 also had weak rear axles and a single brake master cylinder. The best example in the world would struggle to achieve an auction price of even $29,500
and that would be for a perfect example. 3) RHD – no big deal anymore, growing numbers of people are coming to prefer it for the novelty aspect. The biggest problem with these cars is RUST – and even the frames rust, particularly the right rear under the battery. My take on this car is it’s going to wind up a parts car, but not a desirable one for the reasons I pointed out
or it will become a Chevy powered hot rod. Based on what I see, it may be only a $1500 car at best.
As a parts car it will maybe recoup the investment. As anything else, you will take a beating.
Sorry Howard – like most, I usually enjoy your your comments but my B.S. meter went off the scale this time. While the statement about the loudest sound being the ticking of the clock at 60 mph, that was just advertising hyperbole. In reality you have wind noise, road/tire noise, engine noise just like any other car, but maybe a but more subdued. I have personally owned over 300 Bentley and Rolls-Royce automobiles and driven even more.
Well, brakeservo, if that is your real name, I don’t think I like your tone. I don’t ever B.S. and that’s what I heard. Road, engine, and outside noises aren’t tolerated in a Rolls, so not sure where you’re coming from. We don’t need a “hyper critical” person here, we can B.S. a little ( 300 you say?) and have fun, so lighten up, hey?
Have you contacted the folks at Guinness?
“…don’t command much attention even if…”
i love the sculpted lines even on this junk widda rag on top…
Let’s agree to disagree on this albatross. In it’s day it was a magnificent automobile. Coachwork of a bygone era. Today robots build cars excuse me SUV’s that all look the same and even wear many of the same colors. Who cares about the clock ticking, well unfortunately the clock may have stopped on this one. But if someone were to resurrect this with a tried and true drivetrain and some custom interior I would not hate it. Smiles per mile, drive em!
I could be wrong but I think “once ran” is true of most cars.