1956 Bentley S1 Lightweight Six-Light Saloon by H. J. Mulliner

Between 1955-57 H.J. Mulliner, the well-known West London coachbuilder, completed a total of 27 coach-built Bentleys, and we believe 12 of those were lightweight aluminium-bodied cars built to ‘Design Reference 7401’, which was a development of the lightweight sports saloon coachwork seen previously on the Bentley Mk VI and R-Type featuring a razor edge design and rear-hinged suicide doors. The lovely Bentley on offer today (B142BA- Body 6000) was indeed one of those Lightweight 7401 cars built on a standard chassis and we understand was one of three built in 1956. B142BA (registered 8346 PE) was retained by H.J. Mulliner as a demonstrator until 1958 when it was sold to colourful property tycoon, Jack Taubman.

It's been with our enthusiastic owner since the 1980s. Last on the road in 2011, it has recently been recommissioned and is now running and driving but may require tyres and brakes before active use. We understand that it was professionally painted white in the 1970s, a long time ago but the car still presents well. The interior is delightfully original in a Chocolate Brown velour (velvet) and is in great condition, as are the edged brown cord carpets in the boot.

There are always roles for white Bentleys in  movies and 8346 PE has featured in a few. IMCDB shows credits for the car in Underworld (1985), The Comic Strip, Aspasso nel Tempo Movie (1997) and Outnumbered 007-16 and we also understand that the car was used during Barry and Janine's Wedding in EastEnders (1999).

This is a well-presented example of a very rare aluminium-bodied Mulliner Lightweight Six-Light S1 and should the excitement of a Bentley Drivers Club Garden Party not prove enough, a return to Showbiz shouldn't be hard to arrange.

https://www.imcdb.org/vehicles_make-Bentley_model-B142BA.html