1961 Bentley S2 Continental Drophead Coupe

This 1961 Bentley S2 Continental Drophead Coupe by Mulliner Park Ward is finished in Sand Metallic over Sable with a Beige Everflex hood. This is a RHD drive example with a 6.2L V8 and four-speed automatic transmission and shows 145,000 miles. This Bentley was featured at the Earls Court Motor Show and delivered new in April 1962 to composer and bandleader Annunzio Paolo Mantovani. The Bentley presents in overall great condition throughout with a highly original interior. Repaint and rebuilt automatic transmission were completed approximately 10,000 miles ago. This highly original S2 Continental is well suited for weekend driving, touring, and presenting at local and regional events! The S2 Continental Drophead is widely regarded as one of the most important postwar Bentley convertibles because it combines true coachbuilt exclusivity with the first-generation Bentley V8 platform, making surviving original examples particularly significant among collectors. Design No. 991 by Mulliner Park Ward is one of the most recognized and valuable S2 Continental body styles due to its low production, Vilhelm Koren design, and direct connection to Bentleys final era of traditional coachbuilt motorcars. This example was ordered by Perth Crucible Ltd for the Earls Court Motor show in 1961 and was first owned by Annunzio Paolo Mantovani. Mr. Mantonvani was an internationally famous orchestra leader and composer renowned for his lush cascading strings sound. He became one of the worlds best-selling recording artists of the 1950s and was the first musician to sell over one million stereo records. In the 1970s, the Bentley traveled from Europe to the States to spend most of its lifetime in the Midwest. The third owner purchased the Bentley in the 1990s and completed the repaint and transmission rebuild. The current owner had the Bentley mechanically sorted during his ownership and has enjoyed taking the Bentley out on beautiful days for touring. The Bentley is a beautiful original example that even in driver-level condition won Peoples Choice at the Chicago British Car Festival, as well as being a recent entrant at the prestigious Geneva Concours and the Milwaukee Masterpiece Concours. The Bentley retains its original engine, original color combination, original UK registration number 7700 LJ, and comes with build records, historical documentation, original handbooks, coachwork handbook, and period factory literature. The exterior of this Bentley is in overall great condition! The Sand Metallic paint was refinished approximately 20 years ago and still presents very well with good gloss and luster. The brightwork is in overall good condition with some areas showing expected wear from normal use. The Lucas headlights, fog lights, parking lamps and windshield wipers are in working condition. The beige Everflex convertible top is in great condition. The Bentley well represents the understated, low-beltline profile that made these coachbuilt Continentals some of the most recognizable Bentley designs of the period. The interior of is highly original and presents in overall good condition with Sable Connolly leather seats, matching wool carpets, and walnut wood trim throughout the dashboard and door caps. The leather seating surfaces remain soft with only light age-related wear visible. The carpets show overall good condition with normal wear. The dashboard houses Smiths instrumentation with factory radio, optional power windows, and a walnut burl picnic table under the dash. The presentation of the cabin reflects long-term preservation of the original interior that is in good overall condition! Power comes from the 6.2-liter aluminum-alloy V8 paired with four-speed automatic transmission. The transmission was rebuilt approximately 10,000 miles ago in the early 2000s. The Bentley has twin SU carburetors, generator for the 12v system, power steering, front independent suspension with coil springs, a rear live axle with semi-elliptical leaf springs, and f