About Me

An Interesting Car With A Great Story!

The Car
A 1964 Bentley S3 commissioned by Rolls-Royce/Bentley and J.S. Inskip the New York dealer and built for display at the 1964 New York International Automobile show. Prior to completion and because of its display status Rolls-Royce forwarded the car to Harold Radford for coachbuilt modifications. These modifications included a split, 60/40 rear seat allowing access to the trunk. The addition of a “Ladies Cabinet” which includes a Sewing Kit, First Aid Kit, Collapsible Clothes Hangars, Tissues, Hand Towel and Folding Mirror. A Smokers Cabinet which includes Cigar Holder, Silver Cigarette Case, Pipe Holder, Cigar Cutter, Lighter and Clothes Brush. An additional cabinet behind the front left seat holds custom fitted glassware and behind the right front seat is a liquor cabinet containing 3 Pewter and Leather covered flasks. The front right door contains a compartment containing a leather covered Ladies Jewelry/Cosmetic Case, the left front door contains a Soda Compartment holding Tonic and Soda bottles. The rear Armrest holds a custom fitted compartment containing leather covered Pad/Pen Combination, a Cigarette Case and a Comb/Brush Set. Adjustable reading lamps are fitted to the rear quarters. A leather eye glass case is fitted to the left sun visor. Other modifications include Leather Pockets fitted to the rear door panels, Custom Umbrella fitted to the rear seat heel pad, Glass Holders fitted to the rear of the front seats, leather covered Head Rest fitted to the front passenger seat, a driver adjustable front road lamp (known as a RotoFlare Lamp) is fitted to the front of the car. Last, but not least, a folding Picnic Table expands from the trunk. When in use leather covered cushions are fitted to the tops of the bumper guards to provide seating. Remarkably only the Lighter and the Collapsible Clothes Hangers are the only missing items. The remaining Radford equipment is original to the car!

The Story
I came upon this car at a classic car dealership in New Jersey in June of 1998. On consignment the dealer had little information about the history of this car. As intriguing as it was with all of this unusual equipment there was something more about this car that was calling me. I spent over 2 months attempting to buy it with little progress in the negotiations. I was depressed, saddened and grouchy. Finally it was my wife who settled the issue, she said “it is obvious you want the car very much, you’re a few dollars off, pay the man and let’s get this over with!”. On August 26th I drove it home. Soon there after I ordered the Build Sheet from the Rolls-Royce Owners Club, these are copies of factory records and provide the build history of the car and prior ownership history. As I study these documents I realize that this car was built for the NY International Auto Show. Now the very first automobile show I attended was that show. In fact, a buddy and I conned our way into the Rolls-Royce/Bentley exhibit telling a salesman that we were with our school newspaper and wanted some photos. We took one photo of me standing next to a Bentley before the manager, not buying our newspaper story asked us to leave. That picture remained with me through the years and as I began to carefully study it startling reality set in, the car I was standing next to at that show was the very same car sitting in my garage! A number of the Radford accessories can be clearly seen in the photograph.

Once the show was over the car was placed into the inventory of the New York dealer J.S. Inskip. Early last year using the name from the Build Sheet and the original delivery address I searched the phone directory. I found the same name listed in the same town. On a hunch I dispatched a short letter of introduction including a copy of my car show photo. A few days later I am speaking with the first owner of this car! Now a senior citizen with a very sharp memory, he tells me that he too was drawn to this car at the very same show! He related his memories of the car and I provided updates on the current condition.

Now as he puts it, “Ripley would not believe this story” and we both believe the odds of this happening are beyond measure. So therefore you have to ask yourself, is a car just an assortment of nuts, bolts, steel and glass? No…, not this one anyway!

My Cars

• 1964 Bentley S3