1961 Bentley

A very nice example of a sought after, attractive design, thought by many to be the most desirable S Type Continental Saloon of all. At one time owned by Bernie Ecclestone, (1992 to 2007), the car has been well cared-for, confirmed by various invoices in the comprehensive history file,showing considerable expenditure, and in 2014 was completely, and very nicely re-painted in Tudor Grey, a colour which we feel suits the car well. Sound, smart, driving very nicely and ready to go, MoT tested until April 2017.

Chassis No. BC48CZ                     Reg. No. 179 CYT                           £115,000.

Snippets: Singer Sewing Machines & Sheffield of Normanby

Originally ordered by M O Lewis & Co Ltd of Langstone, Newport the car was only with them for 2 years until it was purchased by its second owner – Mrs Daphne Helen Daly of Little Compton Manor , Moreton-in-the-Marsh.  Daphne, who was born in India, was married 3 times: 1937/1942 to Grant Allen Singer – the adopted son of Eileen & Washington Singer (Grant’s adoptive grandfather was Issac Merrit Singer – the inventor of the Singer Sewing machine & father of 20 children!), in 1942 – whilst serving with the 10^th Royal Hussars - Captain Grant Allen Singer captured General Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma, tragically the following day Grant & his driver Trooper Hyatt were killed instantaneously when their Dingo armoured car was hit by an 88mm shell.  Just before the end of WWII (1944) Helen married a Lt Col Noel M. H. Wall OBE & recipient of the Military Cross but they divorced after only a few years and little is known of the Lt. Colonel.  Helen’s 3^rd & final husband (1949 until his death in 1974)  was Major Dermot Ralph Daly whose 1^st wife (1936/49) was Agnes McGowan; she became the 2^nd wife of George Sheffield whose 1^st wife was Psyche Altham (The Sheffield family of Normanby Park are descended from Lady Catherine Darnley - an illegitimate daughter of Lady Catherine Dorchester & King James II.  In 1703 John Sheffield  became Duke of Buckingham &  Normanby - he commissioned the construction of a fine mansion in London called Buckingham House which was sold by the 2nd Duke to King George III - it is now called Buckingham Palace.   Between 1969 & 1992 BC48CZ spent some time in the USA before being acquired in 1992 by Bernie Ecclestone who after WWII formed the Compton & Ecclestone Motorcycle dealership. He had a short racing career in the 500cc Formula 3 series and he later acquired and raced a Mini Cooper MK V.  After several accidents at Brands Hatch he decided to retire from the active side of motor racing in order to concentrate on developing his business empire which today includes the Formula 1 Group.