THE S1 CONTINENTAL DROPHEAD COUPÉ Unlike the majority of Bentley drophead coupés produced in the postwar era, Park Ward’s body style number 700 for the S1 Continental was not an “adaptation” from factory saloon stampings.

Rather, it was a fully custom body, built from the ground up in aluminum by the revered coachbuilder’s craftsmen on the exceptionally rigid, magnificently well-tuned Continental chassis, a renowned “gentleman’s express” of the period.

The picture of well-considered grace, John Blatchley’s lines were a classic from the moment they were first carried out, and have long been considered one of the peaks of modern Bentley styling.

Distinguishing the design were smooth and subtle curves, with long, fully “flow through” fenders that reached gracefully from the front to the rear, with a subtle kick-up forming “hips” over the rear wheels, and the very tiniest vestige of tailfins at their trailing tips.

Significantly, thanks to its alloy paneling, this model also ensured ma...