Registration No: TYW 480
Chassis No: L/B207CM
MOT: Exempt

• One of just three Bentley S1 James Young Coupes manufactured to design ‘B20SR’
• Purchased from H&H Classics in June 2014 and now in current ownership for the last 9 years
• Subject to over £47,000 expenditure in current ownership
• Impressive history file with build sheets and costing sheets, extensive communications and much more

The Bentley S1 was unveiled in April 1955. A very different car from its predecessors, it was longer and wider and based on a much stiffer chassis. Though the traditional body-on-chassis construction facilitated the manufacture of special-bodied versions, most were delivered with the standard offering produced by Pressed Steel Ltd, featuring alloy doors, bonnet and boot lid. Powered by the final iteration of the company's venerable 4.9-litre straight six engine featuring revised cylinder-head porting, power was quoted at 178bhp. As standard, the unit drove through a four-speed automatic gearbox with steering column control. Suspension was independent at the front by wishbones and coil springs and employed a leaf-spring mounted live axle at the rear. Braking was by drums all round. A total of 3,107 examples were produced between 1955 and 1959.

Despite the popularity of Rolls-Royce's 'standard steel' bodywork, discerning customers continued to patronise the handful of coachbuilding firms that remained in business after WW2. 'Luxury clothed in aluminium', chassis number 'B207CM' carries James Young's elegant, two-door coupé coachwork (design number 'B20SR'). 'B207CM' is one of only three subtly different cars completed with this particular body style. At £6,474 and 17 shillings, this rarity came at a price, which was around 50 percent above the 'standard steel' model, virtually the same price as the Continental model and one that would have bought four Jaguar MkVIII Saloons! One of these cars - possibly 'B207CM' - is pictured on page 116 of Graham Robson's 'The Rolls-Royce and Bentley, Volume 2: Coachbuilt Models', being described as 'neat and understated'.

Originally ordered through Jack Barclay as a James Young 4-door saloon by Percy C. Henderson of Little Warley, Essex, the order for this particular example was changed at the last minute by the customer having seen the graceful two-door car under construction. Delivered in June 1957 and one of just three James Young Coupes ever manufactured, this particular example was presented in the attractive colour of Glasso Green with a matching Green-Grey leather interior and featured power-assisted steering, as well as last-minute additions of a sliding sunroof, pipe ashtray, rear window de-mister and a grey rubber mat on the front floor.

Henderson would keep the car for two years and so would Colonel A B McGhee of Wimbledon, before it would pass to Howes & Jackson until 1979 and then to America for a period until its repatriation to the UK in 1989 with a Richard John Edwards of Telford. Another two-year ownership period would span, before ‘TYW 480’ would pass to Mr John C. Brown of Letchworth. The ownership history is picked up in February 2004 with an Ian Dickson and shortly after an A V Smith that same year, who would keep the car for ten years until it was sold to the current owner through H&H Classics.

Purchased by the vendor from our Rockingham Castle sale in June 2014, ‘TYW 480’ was shortly after subject to extensive fettling and improvement works to bring the car up to the standard required with both Castec Motor Services and Penso. This included the headlining and interior being re-trimmed in December of that year with over 320 hours of labour on the interior alone, with the cost of these works totalling £17,401. Next would be a replacement sliding sunroof and carpets in January 2015 at a cost of £6,055 and a month later the plexi-glass rear screen was replaced with a hand-made item at a cost of £7,525. Additional items would follow, including a replacement Radiomobile stereo, replacement steering box, the addition of electronic ignition and extensive mechanical works. Overall, ‘TYW 480’ has been subject to over £47,350 expenditure in current ownership. Now offered for sale due to lack of use, this presents an opportunity to acquire perhaps one of the rarest James Young Bentleys to be manufactured.

Included with the vehicle is a comprehensive history file spanning two ring-binders. Within these are copies of the build sheets and full build history from James Young, including costing sheets, extensive letters between the customer, James Young and Jack Barclay, plus information on various changes made during production. A photocopy of the workshop manual is included, along with pages found in research undertaken by the vendor since purchase; including print-outs of previous listings, ownership details, a catalogue from when the vehicle was purchased along with the bidding card used and more. Bentley Driver’s Club communications are also included, some fuel records in the current ownership, further invoices dating back to 2004, with accompanying previous MOT certificates and the V5C document which displays 6 former keepers.

For more information, please contact:
Andreas Hicks
andreas.hicks@handh.co.uk
07943584762