Lot details

Registration No: FNN 689C
Chassis No: BC6XD
MOT: January 2026

1 of just 68 right-hand drive S3 Continental chassis to be bodied with 'Flying Spur' coachwork by Mulliner Park Ward

Purchased new by ex-Rangers Football Club Chairman and building magnate, J.C. Lawrence of Glasgow, Scotland

Subject to a complete repaint by marque & model specialists English Automotive Services in the current ownership

Offered complete with the original Bentley supplied book pack presented within the incredibly rare original brown paper envelope

Believed to be one of the most original examples in existence and amongst the finest we have encountered

Introduced in Autumn 1962, the S3 Continental was notable as the last Bentley to be coachbuilt on a separate chassis. Powered by a 6230cc OHV V8 engine allied to four-speed automatic transmission and reputedly capable of nigh-on 120mph, the newcomer was ferociously expensive. One of the more striking designs available, H.J. Mulliner's 'Flying Spur' made precious few stylistic concessions to its four-door practicality. Inspired by the heraldic symbol bestowed upon the Scottish Johnstone Clan for helping Bonnie Prince Charlie escape the English on horseback, the model's distinctive moniker came courtesy of H.J. Mulliner's Managing Director, Harry Talbot Johnstone Esq. Understandably popular among contemporary celebrities such as Jayne Mansfield, Fanny Craddock, Sir John Mills, Harry Belafonte and Keith Richards, just 312 S3 Continentals were completed between 1962 and 1966. However, H.J. Mulliner only bodied 82 chassis to its design number 2011 (with a mere 68 of those being to right-hand drive specification). More expensive when new than an Aston Martin DB5 or Ferrari 250GT Lusso, the Bentley S3 Continental had more road presence than either rival.

According to copies of the Bentley chassis cards supplied within the history file, chassis BC6XD was first registered as 'EGB 850C' and supplied on the 10th April 1965 by A&D Fraser Ltd of Glasgow to its first owner, Mr John Lawrence. Mr Lawrence is known in Scottish history as having set up a building business that flourished during the 1930's before being responsible for the construction of air raid shelters during World War II and then the subsequent rebuilding of Clydesbank following the Blitz. By the mid-1960's, his business had become so successful that it employed 2000 staff and had built more homes in Scotland than any other. Perhaps his most famous business venture was in 1963 when he became the Chairman of the Rangers football club, and many consider his enthusiasm for the team to have propelled them to relative stardom during his ten-year reign. Evidently, no other car would do for Mr Lawrence than the exceptionally elegant Flying Spur design and he specified extras such as electric windows and an electric radio aerial. It is not known how long BC6XD was kept by its first owner, but it is understood that the car was in the ownership by at least 1989 and now registered as 'LHL 1' before entering the ownership of a Mr Hind in around 1997.

In 2000, the Bentley entered its longest known owner, a Mr Palmer of Totnes, Devon who was a member of the RREC and he had it kept in tip-top mechanical fettle by Rolls Royce and Bentley Specialists, Specialist Cars (South West) Ltd with an annual servicing schedule. The car was also subject to a repaint in 2006 from its original Grey livery to the very attractive Midnight Blue scheme that it retains today. An entire record of receipts exists from the start of Mr Palmer's ownership and further details re-chroming and re-nickel plating of most brightwork by Derby Plating and work to the interior wood including re-varnishing, plus fitting the driver's seat with new foam but retaining the beautiful matured original leather cover. An invoice from 2005 also details the fitment of air conditioning to make the sporting saloon more enjoyable in fairer climates.

It was during 2022 that the vendor acquired BC6XD which was now registered as 'FNN 689C'. A long search had taken place to find this example, as our vendor has owned several of the H.J Mulliner four-door saloons including the ex-Keith Richards 'Blue Lena' and certainly knows what should be where on the model. He was particularly impressed by BC6XD's originality and pointed out that the original leather bootstraps remain intact and unused along with the original tool kit and owners' manuals that retain their incredibly rare original brown paper wallet that is marked with the chassis number. The vendor has continued with the Bentley's meticulous maintenance schedule which has included works to the power-assisted steering and braking system by his preferred specialist, English Automotive Services of West Molesey, Surrey. Furthermore, the car was treated to a new set of Lambswool over rugs upon the vendor's acquisition and a complete bare-metal repaint of the car was entrusted to English Automotive Services at considerable cost.

Upon inspection, it was noted that BC6XD is a particularly special example and in our opinion represents the perfect combination of originality mixed with necessary freshening. We found it particularly difficult to find issue with the paintwork and the vendor has further backed this up by stating that the overall condition of the car is 'excellent' with the only concession being the electrical system which he rates as 'very good' only due to the wiring loom being the original system from 1965, although he stresses that everything works exactly as intended.

Now offered for sale due to needing the funds for a commercial property investment, the vendor is confident that any prospective buyer would be very pleased to see this example in their collection. Supplied complete with the aforementioned history file complete with invoices, V5C, RREC event entries, chassis cards and the owners handbooks, BC6XD must surely be the most original example on the market today.

For more information, please contact:
Lucas Gomersall
lucas.gomersall@handh.co.uk
07484 082430