Harry's Thoughts
THE ESSENTIALS
This is a rare find. A 1956 Bentley S1 Saloon that is known as “Sir Geoffrey” has benefited from a gorgeous older restoration and has been a multiple award winner with the RROC. This is the most accessorized Bentley that we have ever sold, with a full set of Antler luggage, a Continental Touring Kit and loads of manuals, brochures and spares! Having participated in numerous tours, this S1 is perfect for touring or for concours events.
Sir Geoffrey was ordered new on February 14, 1956 (Valentine’s Day) by Rolls-Royce of Canada for Dr. Joseph E Kania of Vancouver, BC, Canada. Dr. Kania was a well-regarded geologist and stockbroker in the Vancouver area. The Bentley was ordered with power steering, which was an important addition to making it much better for driving. By May 4th, 1956, Sir Geoffrey was aboard the Empress of Scotland to be transported to Vancouver. By September 27, 1966, Sir Geoffrey was acquired by Mrs. EJ Evanson from Vancouver. By about 1991, this S1 was acquired by Pat Murray who commenced a thorough restoration of the body and interior. This restoration was documented with numerous photos included in the sale.
The present owner, Kim Spencer of Vancouver, acquired Sir Geoffrey in 2009 and continued improving the S1 and successfully showed him at concours events and RROC Annual Meetings winning the Touring Class in 2015 (after driving the Bentley from Canada to the meeting in Lake Tahoe, CA).
Mr. Spencer has made a significant investment in upgrades to make this a fantastic touring car. Some of the more notable improvements are a high-capacity cooling system from Simon Curzon, seat belts, back-up camera, battery cut-off switch, and an auxiliary cooling fan.
The livery is finished in a beautiful Shell Gray metallic that has gorgeous shine and luster and is complemented with red pinstriping. Having been used on numerous tours, there are several small chips and scratches that are only noticeable upon close inspection. We included a specific video to review these in detail. The chrome and stainless-steel trim are gorgeous, and the wheel discs look great with the Shell Gray and red pinstripe. The radials feature a nice white wall and improve the driving characteristics. Overall, the exterior looks really sharp and elegant.
The interior overall looks nearly as new. The red leather is soft and supple and feels comfortable and correct. The Wilton wool red carpeting is nearly as new as are the matching red sheepskin mouton overlays. The wood is also beautifully finished with gorgeous burl wood. The instruments are also beautifully finished. The oil pressure gauge and odometer stopped working last week and we will be addressing these in our shop. The “His Masters Voice” original AM radio has been electronically upgraded to an AM/FM radio, which is terrific for touring.
The engine compartment is detailed for concours and is stunning. Mr. Spencer invested heavily to ensure that the engine compartment looks better than new. The 4.9 liter six-cylinder has ample power and is very smooth with its four-speed automatic transmission. There is a long and detailed file of invoices with all of the restoration and maintenance of the engine and mechanical systems. Needless to say, this is a properly maintained Bentley and exceeds expectations in most all areas.
The trunk is loaded with special accessories including a correct set of Antler luggage, a Continental Touring Kit and numerous manuals, brochures and spares. Refer to the 160 photos in our photo gallery and the several videos. The luggage, Touring Kit, brochures and manuals are worth at least $10,000 and would normally take years to accumulate (we speak with experience on this point!). We could sell this Bentley without these accessories at a lower price to sell them separately, but it is a rare, nearly once in a lifetime opportunity to acquire the entire collection compete. That is by far our preference and the way we like to conduct business.
For more details and information, please text, call or email Harry Clark at +1.602.245.7200 or sales@classicpromenade.com. The Rolls is in our Phoenix showroom. We are pleased to offer FaceTime or WhatsApp live video inspections and we help coordinate shipping worldwide. We also have financing partners if you are interested in financing.
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