1962 BENTLEY S3 LWB HAROLD RADFORD

Chassis number BAL2 was the first of just seven long-wheelbase Bentley S3s. Sold new via HR Owen to John Hay ‘Jock’ Whitney, American Ambassador to the United Kingdom and publisher of the New York Herald Tribune. During his time Jock Whitney was regarded as one of the world’s wealthiest men and when visiting London, he would reside at Winfield House in Regents Park, but kept the Bentley for his private use another of his properties, Cherry Hill in Wentworth, Surrey. It is reputed that President John F Kennedy was driven in the car by the ambassador during his private visit to Chatsworth Derbyshire to visit his sister’s grave.

After the ambassador’s death in 1982, the Bentley was left to his second wife, Betsey. It was kept in readiness at her home in London, and when visiting from the USA Betsey was chauffeur driven around London, including visits to Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Windsor Castle. Whilst in the Whitneys ownership it was maintained by Rolls-Royce of Hythe Road and subsequently HR Owen. Mr England, the chauffeur of the Whitneys, concluded that ‘in 40 years of chauffeuring this is the finest S3 Bentley I have ever driven’.

Finished in Whitney Greentree Green with a black roof, red leather interior and red piping, it comes with maroon lambswool skin carpet. This S3 is the only one of this styling equipped without a division. Other noteworthy features include electric windows, air conditioning, Lucas wing mirrors, pencil-beam reading lamps in each rear quarter and ‘Radford adaptions’, reference to the specialist coachbuilder, Harold Radford Ltd.

Since the current owner has owned this vehicle a considerable amount of time and money has been spent on the car, undergoing general maintenance and cosmetic improvements with no expense spared, allowing the car to be used on a daily basis.

The car on offer here is in excellent condition accompanied by a large history file including build specification and road test records, handbook, MOT certificate and V5.