A rare Gentleman Racer: the Bentley S1 Continental Fastback

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Four-seater cars from the 1950s that are both fast and sporty don’t exactly grow on trees. But the Bentley S1 Continental Fastback is one of those rare exceptions — a unique blend of British elegance, sporting flair, and rarity.

From the rear, it radiates sheer dynamism, with sharply sculpted fins and a streamlined silhouette that keeps you looking back. Beneath the bonnet lies a blend of power and refinement, while the interior is steeped in British tradition — thick leather seats, polished wood veneer, and a steering wheel as large as a bistro table, just as it should be.

The front of the car presents a classic — even understated — appearance. But walk around to the rear and something shifts: elegance takes on an edge. We may associate fastbacks more with American muscle cars, but this Bentley is altogether more refined, more subtle — and far rarer. Only 120 examples were produced by Mulliner, each with an aluminium body that seems to cleave the air effortlessly.

One can easily imagine passers-by pausing as this car glided by. Not with a deafening roar, but with that unmistakable British charisma that whispers: “Take a second look.”

Inside, everything breathes British craftsmanship. You settle into the leather, gaze across the long bonnet towards the proud, gleaming ‘B’ on the grille, and suddenly you’re no longer a driver, but a gentleman embarking on a journey.

But what truly sets this Bentley apart is its story. The current owner spent nearly a year winning over its previous custodian — Baroness Royce — convincing her that he was the right person to care for the car. It was never about money; that was irrelevant. It was about trust. The Bentley had been in her family since 1967. She was just thirteen when her parents traded in their beloved Mk IX Jaguar for this Continental — a moment she still recalls with emotion.

A thick binder of documentation charts the shared life of the Baroness and her Bentley: childhood photographs, holiday memories, club meetings, and even a handwritten column in which she recounts the car’s full history.

In 1957, this was the second most expensive car in Britain — only the Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith by Park Ward cost more. Yet instead of being hidden away in a garage, it became part of daily family life: collecting her from school, later transporting her own children. After the turn of the millennium, the Bentley received the care and attention it deserved through a full restoration.

Today, it stands gleaming and proud among a lineup of pre- and post-war Bentleys. But it stands apart — not merely for its beauty, but above all, for its story. 

To read more, go to the advert of Goberson.

Text by Laurens Klein, photos by Remi Dargegen

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