1956 Bentley S1 Four Door Sports Saloon

A very smart example which, according to the factory records, was painted in ‘Gulf blue’ and ‘Grecian grey’, and seemingly still the case – a combination which, with the light blue leather and dark blue carpets – suits the car very well in our opinion. Paintwork, chrome plating, leather, headlining and interior veneers are all excellent, and the engine bay is spotless, virtually to show standards! The boot still has its original black matting, in good condition, which helps to tell a story of the life the car has led. The underside is clean and sound. History file includes various invoices, receipts, etc, dating from the 1970s to 2024, a green logbook, and an MoT certificate from 1974. The car is well presented, running and driving nicely, is fitted with seat belts to the front, and is to be offered fully serviced and newly MoT tested. A good-looking car, in a tasteful colour scheme.

Price £37,500

Snippets: Textiles

Norman Illingworth, a scion of the Holden & Illingworth mill owning families of Bradford took delivery of B122CK shortly before his 50th birthday, perhaps the S1 was an early gift to himself? In the mid 1800s 2 of the Holden sons and 1 Holden daughter married into the Illingworth family creating a unique bond that continued in business until the mid-1900s.

When Marion Holden the matriarch of the family died in 1847 her widower remarried, this time into the Sugden family who also owned a mill in nearby Keighley. The Holden / Illingworth families had factories in France (St. Dennis, Reims & Croix) and England (Penny Oaks, Bradford) – with their business partner Samuel Lister they developed a square motion combing machine (Lister held the patent) which ensured that they dominated the market in the production of combed wool to the extent that by 1867 they were largest wool combers in the world! The wealth generated by the production of this wool enabled the extended families to buy, build & renovate grand houses such as Lady Royd Hall, Oakworth House, Daisy Bank & Nun Appleton Hall.

In the 1930s Norman Illingworth joined the family concern which by now formed part of the Tootal Broadhurst & Lee consortium & in 1957 he was on the board of the parent company and the lesser known Aerlan Ltd. & Lantor Ltd – in 1958 he sailed from Southampton to Cape Town to inspect the firm’s overseas operations and the following year he sailed to New York. The chassis cards show that in 1962 the Bentley was no longer used by Norman and was with a Mr. Moody of Vernons Pools in Aintree