1963 Bentley S3

Details

The Bentley motor car company was founded back in 1919 by brothers W.O. and H.M. Bentley. The Bentley brothers were involved in the motor industry having acquired the agency to sell French built DFP (Doriot, Flandrin & Parant) cars in 1912, however, they desperately wanted to build their own cars. So that they did and the first Bentley motor car, being just a chassis with a dummy engine, was shown at the 1919 London Motor Show and in late 1921 the first production Bentleys were built and delivered to their new owners.

Bentley got the formula right and their cars proved to be luxurious, reliable and fast thus attracting buyers from the elite of society in period. The cars were also incredibly successful on the race track with Bentley achieving the ultimate success winning Le Mans in 1924, 1927, 1928, 1929 and 1930.

The difficult economic times in the late 1920’s had a major impact on Bentley and they stopped motor racing soon after winning Le Mans in 1930 and ultimately fell into receivership in 1931. Rolls-Royce acquired the assets of Bentley in late 1931. In this period Bentley produced some fabulous motor cars including the 3 Litre, 4½ Litre, ‘Blower Bentley’, 6½ Litre and 8 Litre models that are all today highly sought after by enthusiasts and collectors all over the world. The first new Bentley produced following Rolls Royce’s acquisition was the Bentley 3½ Litre which evolved into the Bentley 4¼ Litre. Bentleys of this era are also known as Derby Bentleys as they were built at Rolls Royce’s factory located in Derby in the north of England. Subsequent models included the Mark V, Mark VI and R-Type.

Rolls-Royce introduced the Silver Cloud and the Bentley S-Type in 1955 and for the next eleven years these models were at the cornerstone of Rolls-Royce / Bentley production. The Silver Cloud / S-Type evolved through three major model iterations, being the Silver Cloud I / Bentley S1, Silver Cloud II / Bentley S2 and Silver Cloud III / Bentley S3 until superseded by the Silver Shadow / Bentley T-Series.

The Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III and Bentley S3 were introduced at the Paris Motors Show in October 1962. The most visible difference to their predecessors was the twin dual headlamps. The interior was also upgraded. The S3 received individual seats for the front passengers and legroom was increased for the passengers in the rear. The V8 engines had more power and there was a weight reduction of 100kg. The last iteration of the Silver Cloud and S-Type were very successful models for Rolls-Royce and they were sold to the rich and famous, including celebrates and movie stars. Many were chauffeur driven.

Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale a 1963 Bentley S3.

The original build sheets on file confirm this car was ordered by Kellow Falkiner Pty Ltd for Mr H Krangold from Toorak, Victoria. This Bentley was delivered to Mr Krangold on 24^th January 1963 in the UK. He then used the car for about a week before he returned it to Rolls-Royce Lillie Hall for shipment to Australia. On 12^th February 1963 the car was shipped from London to Melbourne on the ‘Port Brisbane’.

The car is confirmed as having matching chassis, engine and body numbers and was delivered with the following options: radio 622 T, full refrigeration under wing, RR electric windows, plain sundym glass throughout, UB 3664 fawn safety harness to each front seat, UD 8524/5 headlamps, speedo in mph, high frequency horns, triple extension arial UD 1937, home type rear number plate, full colonial, UB 2409 driving mirror with RH 332 top fixing stem, car completely tropicalised to CWP 36 issue 1 and Dunlop black tubeless tyres UG 3916.

The build sheets note the car’s second owner as Mr D Calvert from Skipton in western Victoria from the 17^th April 1965. The car’s subsequent early history is not known, however, it is understood to have always been a Melbourne car. It was owned by a prominent Melbourne based lawyer for many years before being acquired by the current owner in circa 2013 where it joined an eclectic collection of cars. Throughout his ownership the car has been sparingly used.

Today this Bentley S3 looks amazing! At some stage in its life it has had a repaint to a very high standard and the current colour combination of burgundy over silver really suits the car. The paint work presents exceptionally well with a strong depth of colour and high gloss finish. Defects are hard to find. All of the external trim, glass and the chrome work are in really good condition with the exception of the two overriders on the rear bumper. One of them has a very small dent in it and the other one is missing a small section of chrome. Open the door and you are greeted by a lovely leather interior and beautifully presented timber work. All the leather is in great condition as are the carpets. The seats are firm and provide ample support. Everything inside the cabin of this car is ‘just lovely’! Whether you are the driver or a passenger being chauffeured around, you’ll feel right at home and very comfortable in this Bentley.

The engine bay is clean, tidy and well preserved. Purists will note that the firewall and under bonnet remain painted in the correct colour. The boot is similarly well presented. There is a jack, pump, torch and spare wheel present and all are in good condition. Unfortunately the tool kit is missing.

Before arriving at Oldtimer Australia this Bentley was serviced by a classic British car specialist in Melbourne. The transmission was removed from the car to identify the cause of an oil leak. New gaskets were fitted to rectify the problem. The brakes were checked, the engine oil was changed and a leaking fuel hose was replaced. The battery was also replaced.

Highlights:

• A factory right hand drive, matching numbers example.
• Australian delivered, as confirmed by the factory build sheets.
• Finished in the most stunning colour combination.
• Fitted with factory air conditioning.
• 1 of only 1,286 Bentley S3 saloons built.

 

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