Bentley Ute For Gentleman Farmers

MELBOURNE – June 27, 2011: Shannons have something for Gentleman Farmers in their auction at the Australian international Motor Show on Sunday July 10 – a unique Bentley ‘Ute’ being sold with no reserve!

Based on a 1956 Bentley S1 Saloon, the aristocratic bright yellow Bentley with its bespoke timber load bed where the rear seat passengers would normally be chauffeured, comes with a blue-blood history, both before and after its transformation from toffy transport to rural Aussie workhorse.

It was purchased new in London from Jack Barclay Limited in Mayfair, London by Charles Lloyd-Jones, the then-owner of the David Jones retail chain, who later sold it to John Vawser Motors of New South Wales.

It was then was acquired by the vendor, The Right Honourable 6th Earl of Stradbroke Keith Rous, who made the eccentric decision to convert it into a utility, with the work carried out by George Williams of Camperdown, NSW.

The vehicle has since been maintained by Pro Star Motors in Hawthorn, Victoria and has been driven sparingly over the past 15 years, during which it has been displayed regularly at the Australian National Motor Museum.

In 2011, the Earl donated the Bentley Ute to Melbourne’s Trinity Grammar School, requesting that it be "used by the School, or to be sold to donate funds to the School".

Fittingly, the Bentley is now being auctioned by Shannons at the Motor Show, with all proceeds going to the building of a new library at the school.

Offered for sale with no reserve, the Unique S1 presents a great opportunity for collectors or Gentleman Farmers at its anticipated selling price of $22,000-$32,000.