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Coys to sell Brian Epstein's Bentley

Published 13 February 2014

A Bentley S3 once owned by The Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein is to be sold by Coys at its Spring Classics sale at the Royal Horticultural Society in London on 11 March.

Known as 'Mr. 25%', referring to Epstein’s cut of The Beatles’ gross earnings, it is estimated he earned £75m in today's money. One of the things he did with it was buy this Bentley S2 in February 1964 - it was Epstein’s first brand new Bentley and still bears the original AJB400B registration number.

He had ordered it in late 1963, with some assistance from Derek Taylor, the Beatles’ Press Officer, placing the order through RS Mead of Maidenhead. The car was then collected from the dealer by Derek Taylor and Lonnie Trimble, Brian’s valet/chauffeur, as he was in the USA with The Beatles.

Such was the car's impact on the group he managed, it even received a bit of a namecheck on Pathe News. On 22 February 1964, The Beatles and Brian returned to the UK after appearing on the Ed Sullivan show in the USA by the time when the Beatlemania hit the USA. Arriving at Heathrow airport at 7.00am, they were met by an estimated 10,000 fans (Derek Taylor and Lonnie Trimble had brought the Bentley to collect Brian).

They were interviewed by Pathe News:

Q: 'Have you got time to actually spend this money?'
BEATLES: (in unison) 'What money?'
Q: 'Doesn't he (Brian Epstein) give any to you?'
GEORGE: 'No, no. Have you seen that car of his?' (laughter)

George was referring to Brian’s new Bentley S3 which was sitting outside the airport's Kingsford-Smith VIP suite.

In October 1965, Epstein sold the car and it passed into the hands of Sidney J Dicks Ltd. Subsequent owners include a London solicitor, Mr. Levinson, and Norman Boyack, a theatrical agent. In the same ownership for over 25 years, the car has a thick history file, detailing a bare metal re-spray as well as piston ring replacement and engine overhaul. The file also has copies of the original History Sheet and chassis listing, DVLA and previous-owner correspondence, copies of press cuttings and marque-related literature, copy of the owner's manual and a quantity of expired MoTs and tax discs.

The car is currently taxed and MoT'd and comes with current V5C registration document. The original radio has been converted to FM and comes with a tool kit with jack and spare wheel.