H&H Classics has announced a “unique” Bentley S2 Continental, formerly owned by the late comic actor Peter Sellers, is heading to auction, with the 1960 example expected to fetch between £120 000 and £150 000 when going under the hammer on 13 March, 2024. At the current Rand-Pound exchange, these amounts translate to around R2 863 262 and R3 579 078.
So, what makes this classic Bentley unique? Well, under the ownership of Peter Sellers (from 1961 to 1966), the maintenance of this Continental was entrusted to Jack Barclay Ltd. However, Jack Barclay Ltd was not only entrusted to carry out maintenance on this drop-top Bentley. Indeed, it is said they were commissioned by the The Goon Show star to customise it.
But what makes this Bentley bespoke? For starters the front wings have been revised, while a duo of additional headlamps have been fitted to the front.
However, H&H Classics says these distinctive personalisation upgrades were just a couple of a series of modifications that were made to the car. Other updates include a smoke glass mirror with longer arm to allow the driver full movement of the sun visor.
“Sellers was a man who changed his cars so often, his fellow star of The Goon Show, Spike Milligan, referred to them as ‘metal underwear’, so to have retained this Bentley for so long, shows how much he cherished it,” said Damian Jones, senior motorcar specialist at H&H Classics.
“Yet to undergo a major restoration and still retaining much originality including its original upholstery, the car is now in need of recommissioning or restoration. However, given the car’s history and the list of 1960s celebrities who may have accompanied Sellers on journeys in the car, we expect there to be significant interest in the vehicle.”
In addition, this Bentley Drophead Coupé’s history file contains several invoices which specifically mentions returning the car to the film set of The Wrong Arm of the Law. An original poster of the latter, 1960s movie is included with the purchase. But that’s not the only memorabilia the fortunate bidder will get. There are also a vinyl Goons LP and more than 24 original press cuttings about Sellers’ various acting roles.