S3 bentley - pricing help

[Duesey]

Can anyone help confirm a sale price for me please.

This was an old Bentley of my fathers (B reg)

Before he died he had it taken back to bare metal and had all the bodywork done to a high standard.

The interior is very good condition - it has been round the clock once, I can remember that.

I have been told a very good respray will cost 10K.

I have too many cars to really justify keeping it so think it would be best to sell it on as it is.

So a price to sell as it is - am I about right with 5K to 7K ?

Thanks

Claire

[ADP68]

I supppose the answer to that lies in how good the mechanicals are. A front suspension and brake overhaul is c.£7k (that's what I spent on mine anyway) and that's not including new brake drums. They tend to sell for low 20's to mid 50's although the latter have been brought back to 'show' standard. It's a difficult one to answer. Perhaps you could help out with some info on the mechanicals?

[Duesey]

As far as I know all the mechanicals are fine.

My dad always said it was just let down by the bodywork, I don't think he would have bothered with the bodywork if something else was wrong with the car that would cost ££.

The chrome is good, think there may be a small dent in back bumper. The heater was rebuilt, which apparently can play up and is a pain to get to if you haven't got the car apart already - so I was told.

All the interior is good and original - the only thing it needs is a new roof lining.

Claire

[Bluebottle911]

Claire, if all it needs is a respray and new headlining, then I should have thought it is worth your while getting the work done and then selling it for around £25-30K

[Bjerke]

I became involved in the rebuild of a Bentley S3 which was completed about two years ago. The Bentley belonged to a family friend who for sentimental reasons wanted the vehicle restored to a very high standard. The vehicle was restored by a specialist restoration company that completed the most fantastic restoration. In fact there was almost nothing that was not addressed over what became a two year restoration period, and words cannot describe how this vehicle looked upon completion. Of course, the restoration cost was very high, and the owner could never expect to recover the costs through a sale.

During the two year period I learnt a great deal about just what is involved in restoring one of these vehicles. I felt at the very outset that the owner had one of two options. Either to simply just forget it, or go the entire way. The owner took the latter option. As the vehicle came apart I could not believe the amount of rot in the bodywork. The front wings were finished. The sills likewise, and the rear wings required new lower sections. Mechanically you must keep in mind that these vehicles are powered by what are now old engines, and old engines get tired! In this case a reconditioned engine was required as it was simply not economic to continue with the original unit. Other expensive mechanical items included the heating system, the brakes and a lot more.

My advice is take your vehicle to a recognised Bentley restoration company. Listen to their advice, and think very carefully before you spend a penny. It made no economic sense for my friend to restore their vehicle, but there were some rather special personal reasons. Once you start having the vehicle taken apart to any degree there can be some very expensive surprises. Chris

[andyh68]

There's a Bentley S2 "barn find" on ebay at the moment:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bentley-S2-restoration-proje...

Starting price of GBP8,500 - may be worth tracking as a benchmark...

[Duesey]

Thanks chaps for the replies.

This car had a similar hold on us as the above owner. I think it may have been my grandfathers from new or at least from quite a new age and when he died he 1974 it became my fathers daily drive, so I grew up with the car. It got put away about 15 years ago.

The restoration bodywork has been done by my fathers friend who is a top Bentley bodywork specialist, who during his lifetime has worked for all the main Bentley restores in the UK, Stanley Mann etc. He worked on the car in his spare time but as his health was not great the work went on for a number of years, hence my thinking that anything mechanical that needed doing would have been sorted during those years whilst the car was apart. At the time I did think it would be something I would keep because of the family ties. However as time passes I know it's just one more too many cars, even the Mulsane is now parked up and rarely used.

I thought about the respray then sell but I don't really want the hassle of sorting that just to make a few more ££. I would rather just sell for a fair price now.

Thanks for the ebay link, will see if that moves.

Claire

[guru_1071]

claire

ghost motors are advertising on ebay wanting an s3 at the mo - could be worth a ring?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bentley-S3_W0QQitemZ31017240...

sounds like yours had had all the hard work done!

[justin-banks]

Hi Claire,
I think the car is worth a little more than your first estimation. Maybe put the car into auction again? sometimes these projects get more than you would think! I bought your Alfa 6C2500 If I remember and that needed a full restoration.
Feel free to call me and I will help in any way I can.
Justin 07794 579 886