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Photo credit: Jay Hirsch
FROM THE ESTATE OF DUDLEY MOORE CBE
PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT MUSIC FOR ALL SEASONS AND THE DUDLEY MOORE RESEARCH FUND FOR PSP
1963 BENTLEY S3 CONTINENTAL
COACHWORK BY JAMES YOUNG
Chassis No. BC 134 XA
Cream with green leather upholstery
Engine: V8, overhead valve, 6,230cc.; Gearbox: four-speed automatic; Suspension: front, independent, unequal length wishbones, coil springs, rear, semi-elliptic leaf springs; Brakes: servo-assisted four wheel drums. Right hand drive.
The third and final series of the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud and equivalent Bentley S-Type was introduced in October 1962; the Bentley cost $16,335 and, following tradition, the Silver Cloud III was a further $300. A noticeable change was the paired headlamp arrangement, while the most important mechanical change was the improvement in compression ratio up to 9:1 which gave these luxury models an additional 15bhp. There were a few minor modifications in style and the radiator grille was shortened. Internally there were now separate seats for the driver and front passenger and more leg room for rear passengers. Performance topped out at about 116 miles per hour and the cars were available in Bentley guise as standard S3, long wheelbase S3 or Continental S3. Coachwork was still available to special order and, in particular, the H.J. Mulliner/Park Ward Flying Spur and the very similar version from James Young, such as on offer here today, were very much individual motor cars for the discerning Bentley owner and were regarded as among the most attractive designs. Not surprisingly they were built in only small numbers.
This four door six-light Continental saloon, sometimes referred to as a "James Young Flying Spur", although technically this term belonged exclusively to H. J. Mulliner, was according to the build sheets delivered in July 1963. The first owner was Alec F. Higham Esq from Accrington, Lancashire. By December 1966 the car had changed ownership and was with Mr. D.E. Wheeler of Warren Street, London W1. Exactly when Dudley Moore acquired this Bentley is unknown, however we believe he imported the car from the UK while living in the US in the mid 1970s and he certainly became a familiar sight driving it around the Los Angeles area by the early 1980s. Initially the car was registered 919 YEE, but Dudley later changed his license plate to read TNDRLY which it still carries.
Dudley Moore used the Bentley extensively as in 1981 the mileage was reading 26,086 and currently the mileage is showing 72,000. During his ownership in California the car was regularly maintained by a number of specialists, although by the 1990s the car was used less frequently. Condition today and as verified by an official appraisal carried out in September 1997, since when only 100 miles have been covered, indicates that generally the exterior is very sound and presentable, although the undercarriage and engine bay are beginning to show their age as one would expect from any vehicle which has been driven regularly. The interior is also quite presentable, with some patina of use to the upholstery. The Bentley comes equipped with air conditioning, a sliding sun roof, tinted windows and a Kenlowe fan for additional cooling to the radiator. The trunk is equipped with a CD player and at some stage the car was wired for a hands free phone.
Dudley Moore had many talents and was a highly accomplished pianist, comedian and actor. He won a scholarship to Oxford University where he studied music. As a comedian he was hugely successful as a member of London's Beyond the Fringe comedy troupe which produced ground breaking '60s satire. He became a cult figure in British comedy most notably when he and Peter Cook formed a duo playing Derek and Clive, two scruffy individuals whose rambling diatribes are still legendary today. In the early 1970s Moore moved to the US to pursue his film career and in 1979 his big break came in the hit comedy film 10. Two years later he won an Oscar nomination for his role as a drunken millionaire in the hit movie Arthur. In addition he also won an Oscar nomination for best original music score for the film Six Weeks.
Several months before his death, Dudley decided that he wanted to donate his car to be auctioned for charity. He had owned the car for many years, and as he was no longer able to drive, he made the decision to have the proceeds equally divided between two charities close to his heart.
MUSIC FOR ALL SEASONS is now in its tenth year, and Dudley Moore was a leading board member and President of its prestigious Advisory Board since its inception. Music For All Seasons (MFAS) presents live, professional musical programs for people confined in facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes, prisons and special institutions for children. MFAS is active in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and California, with a roster of 70 professional musicians performing in small ensembles in about 60 facilities. Dudley was devoted to the work of MFAS, which he called "as necessary to life as breath itself", and he took an active role in the daily operations of the organization. He performed at some of the facilities, and he played three major Carnegie Hall benefit concerts, helping to raise funds for the organization's work.
THE DUDLEY MOORE RESEARCH FUND FOR PSP was created with the goal of finding a cure for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. In September of 1999, Dudley Moore announced his battle with PSP, a rare, degenerative syndrome related to Parkinson's disease. It was Dudley's wish to raise funds to help find a cure for PSP, which affects balance, speech, coordination, swallowing and vision. Most of the estimated 20,000 people with PSP become wheelchair-bound and unable to speak in 3 to 8 years from diagnosis. Currently there is no cure, but there are several funded research projects in the name of the Dudley Moore Research Fund for PSP. The fund is administered by the Baltimore-based Society for PSP.
Christie's International Motor Cars are privileged and honored to be offering this car for sale today.
FROM THE ESTATE OF DUDLEY MOORE CBE
PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT MUSIC FOR ALL SEASONS AND THE DUDLEY MOORE RESEARCH FUND FOR PSP
1963 BENTLEY S3 CONTINENTAL
COACHWORK BY JAMES YOUNG
Chassis No. BC 134 XA
Cream with green leather upholstery
Engine: V8, overhead valve, 6,230cc.; Gearbox: four-speed automatic; Suspension: front, independent, unequal length wishbones, coil springs, rear, semi-elliptic leaf springs; Brakes: servo-assisted four wheel drums. Right hand drive.
The third and final series of the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud and equivalent Bentley S-Type was introduced in October 1962; the Bentley cost $16,335 and, following tradition, the Silver Cloud III was a further $300. A noticeable change was the paired headlamp arrangement, while the most important mechanical change was the improvement in compression ratio up to 9:1 which gave these luxury models an additional 15bhp. There were a few minor modifications in style and the radiator grille was shortened. Internally there were now separate seats for the driver and front passenger and more leg room for rear passengers. Performance topped out at about 116 miles per hour and the cars were available in Bentley guise as standard S3, long wheelbase S3 or Continental S3. Coachwork was still available to special order and, in particular, the H.J. Mulliner/Park Ward Flying Spur and the very similar version from James Young, such as on offer here today, were very much individual motor cars for the discerning Bentley owner and were regarded as among the most attractive designs. Not surprisingly they were built in only small numbers.
This four door six-light Continental saloon, sometimes referred to as a "James Young Flying Spur", although technically this term belonged exclusively to H. J. Mulliner, was according to the build sheets delivered in July 1963. The first owner was Alec F. Higham Esq from Accrington, Lancashire. By December 1966 the car had changed ownership and was with Mr. D.E. Wheeler of Warren Street, London W1. Exactly when Dudley Moore acquired this Bentley is unknown, however we believe he imported the car from the UK while living in the US in the mid 1970s and he certainly became a familiar sight driving it around the Los Angeles area by the early 1980s. Initially the car was registered 919 YEE, but Dudley later changed his license plate to read TNDRLY which it still carries.
Dudley Moore used the Bentley extensively as in 1981 the mileage was reading 26,086 and currently the mileage is showing 72,000. During his ownership in California the car was regularly maintained by a number of specialists, although by the 1990s the car was used less frequently. Condition today and as verified by an official appraisal carried out in September 1997, since when only 100 miles have been covered, indicates that generally the exterior is very sound and presentable, although the undercarriage and engine bay are beginning to show their age as one would expect from any vehicle which has been driven regularly. The interior is also quite presentable, with some patina of use to the upholstery. The Bentley comes equipped with air conditioning, a sliding sun roof, tinted windows and a Kenlowe fan for additional cooling to the radiator. The trunk is equipped with a CD player and at some stage the car was wired for a hands free phone.
Dudley Moore had many talents and was a highly accomplished pianist, comedian and actor. He won a scholarship to Oxford University where he studied music. As a comedian he was hugely successful as a member of London's Beyond the Fringe comedy troupe which produced ground breaking '60s satire. He became a cult figure in British comedy most notably when he and Peter Cook formed a duo playing Derek and Clive, two scruffy individuals whose rambling diatribes are still legendary today. In the early 1970s Moore moved to the US to pursue his film career and in 1979 his big break came in the hit comedy film 10. Two years later he won an Oscar nomination for his role as a drunken millionaire in the hit movie Arthur. In addition he also won an Oscar nomination for best original music score for the film Six Weeks.
Several months before his death, Dudley decided that he wanted to donate his car to be auctioned for charity. He had owned the car for many years, and as he was no longer able to drive, he made the decision to have the proceeds equally divided between two charities close to his heart.
MUSIC FOR ALL SEASONS is now in its tenth year, and Dudley Moore was a leading board member and President of its prestigious Advisory Board since its inception. Music For All Seasons (MFAS) presents live, professional musical programs for people confined in facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes, prisons and special institutions for children. MFAS is active in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and California, with a roster of 70 professional musicians performing in small ensembles in about 60 facilities. Dudley was devoted to the work of MFAS, which he called "as necessary to life as breath itself", and he took an active role in the daily operations of the organization. He performed at some of the facilities, and he played three major Carnegie Hall benefit concerts, helping to raise funds for the organization's work.
THE DUDLEY MOORE RESEARCH FUND FOR PSP was created with the goal of finding a cure for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. In September of 1999, Dudley Moore announced his battle with PSP, a rare, degenerative syndrome related to Parkinson's disease. It was Dudley's wish to raise funds to help find a cure for PSP, which affects balance, speech, coordination, swallowing and vision. Most of the estimated 20,000 people with PSP become wheelchair-bound and unable to speak in 3 to 8 years from diagnosis. Currently there is no cure, but there are several funded research projects in the name of the Dudley Moore Research Fund for PSP. The fund is administered by the Baltimore-based Society for PSP.
Christie's International Motor Cars are privileged and honored to be offering this car for sale today.