Fantasy Junction

Description

1962 Bentley S2 Continental
s/n BC60LCZ
Sand with Red Leather Interior

Created in Bentley’s greatest tradition of luxury, performance, and engineering, the Continental is among the most rare and desirable of all postwar Bentleys. The replacement of the illustrious R-Type Continental, the S series cars featured exclusive coachwork which was lighter than the standard coachwork, and usually built by H.J. Mulliner. These cars represented the last of the coachbuilt cars, and featured the distinctive styling shared with the Flying Spur, making it the last unique Bentley that was not also available as a Rolls-Royce for decades. The S2 variant was introduced in 1959 and featured an all new aluminum 6.2 liter V8 in place of the old six cylinder powerplant. Coupled with the lighter Continental coachwork, these cars were more enjoyable to drive and were meant for owner-drivers, and not the more insular owners of the Rolls-Royce cousins who were used to being driven instead.

Chassis BC60LCZ is one of just 27 Continentals built to design number 7514 in left-hand drive by H.J. Mulliner, coupe bodywork unique to Bentley rather than the Continental Park Ward bodywork also shared with Rolls-Royce. Constructed entirely of aluminum at the coachbuilder’s West London works, this top-of-the-line Bentley was individually tailored to meet the demands of its first owner, Henry T. Mudd of Los Angeles.

Born in 1913, Henry T. Mudd was the scion of one of America’s great industrial fortunes. His grandfather, Col. Seeley W. Mudd, reopened ancient copper mines on the island of Cyprus and soon became one of California’s wealthiest residents. His uncle, Seeley G. Mudd, is well known in classic car circles as the man behind the famed Duesenberg Mudd Coupe, a one-of-a-kind Model J with fabric-covered Bohman & Schwartz coachwork.

After graduating from MIT, Henry T. Mudd continued to build his family business, serving as the president of the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers and later as chairman and CEO of the Cyprus Mines Corporation. In addition to his vast holdings, Henry Mudd was a civil leader in Los Angeles, a patron of the arts, and the primary founder of the prestigious Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California.

Constructed in fall 1961, Mr. Mudd’s S2 Continental was originally finished in Tudor Grey with scarlet Connolly hides, cardinal red carpets, and gray headliner. According to H.J. Mulliner records, BC60LCZ was generously outfitted with a number of unusual features, such as electric windows; custom-tailored, lightweight front seats; Richmond-type lap belts; Sundym glass; special Tudor, type-two sun visors, brighter- than-standard instrument lighting; and a radio.

Upon completion, the S2 Continental was shipped to official Rolls-Royce and Bentley dealer Peter Satori in Pasadena, California, and delivered to Mr. Mudd on November 6, 1961.

Mr. Mudd enjoyed his S2 Continental Coupe until fall 1968, when it was sold to its second owner, James C. Armstrong of Midland, Texas. By this time, the Bentley had been refinished in Sand and had accumulated just over 40,000 miles. In 1970, Mr. Armstrong was driving the car from Reno to Dallas when he overheated the engine. Since it would need to be replaced, he traded the car to Overseas Motors in Dallas and they subsequently sold the car to Charles Crail Automobiles in Los Angeles. Charles Crail ordered from England a totally rebuilt S2 engine of the same series and replaced the engine in the car. This is fully documented. He then sold the car to its third owner, David Horne of Beverly Hills, California in 1971. Throughout his extended ownership until 2009, Mr. Horne always entrusted the S2 Continental to local specialists Jim Rickman and Scott Motors, preserving it in superb cosmetic and mechanical order. The car then passed on to its fourth owner in Texas and remains in lovely condition throughout.

Cosmetically, the car makes a strong impression. The paint was done to very good standards and remains in excellent condition, with the occasional touched in chip or other minor blemish. The body is straight with good panel fit, and the car appears quite solid, even in the vulnerable inner rockers that are often deteriorated in otherwise nice Continentals. The chrome is very good across the board, with light surface pitting and minor swirl marks. The glass and lights are excellent overall, save for some small areas of delamination on the front and rear windscreens at the corners. The car is equipped with period Lucas flamethrower fog lamps.

The interior makes an exceptionally strong impression with beautiful recent red leather upholstery. The carpets are excellent as is the wood other than some areas of peeling to the finish on the dash top pieces. The remainder of the wood appears to have been recently restored. The switches and instruments are in excellent condition, and may very well be unrestored. The headliner is excellent correct wool.

The engine compartment is unusually clean for a Bentley of this vintage, cars which tend to have the cleanliness of their engines overlooked. The valve covers, engine, and firewall are all quite clean, tidy, and reasonably well-detailed. The undercarriage has also been prepared to high standards and is both solid and very clean. The trunk has excellent tan carpet and is complete with a variety of original accessories including jack, jack handle, spare, tools, air pump, and torch. The car also has its original owner’s handbook, H.J. Mulliner instruction book, and an impressive file that contains copies of factory build sheets, ownership documents, and service records.

This car is an exceptional opportunity to acquire an extremely rare coachbuilt Bentley with excellent history. In addition to its known history, the car is extremely complete with books, tools, jack, air pump, torch, records, and copies of the build sheets. One of just 27 built and with only 4 owners from new, this is a high caliber example that will appeal to the serious collector or enthusiast who insists on the best.

The above vehicle information is complete and accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time it is posted to this website. Corrections or additional information is always appreciated. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge. Vehicles are subject to prior sale. All advertised to be true but not guaranteed. We assume no liability for errors or omissions.

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Fantasy Junction  •  510-653-7555  •  1145 Park Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608