90s superstar selling rare, vintage Bentley at auction after failing to find buyer in private sale
JAMIROQUAI frontman Jay Kay is selling his rare, vintage Bentley at auction after failing to find a buyer in a private sale.
One lucky driver could now get a bargain by snapping up the 1958 S1 Continental Drophead Coupé convertible on the cheap.
The estimate for the flash motor which appeared in one of his Jamiroquai music videos is £800,000.
It had previously been expected to sell for over £1million.
Jay Kay – real name Jason Luís Cheetham – has even left one of his band’s cassettes in the driver’s side door.
The 90s chart-topper is known for his love of flash motors and currently has over 50 in his collection – including a Ferrari Enzo and a Lamborghini Miura SV.
But he is flogging the Bentley – one of his first ever purchased – after owning it for 22 years
It is one of only 94 ever made and just 55 were produced of his specification.
It has less than 40,000 miles on the clock – with only 7,000 done by Jay Kay – and can do 119mph and 0-60mph in 13.1 seconds.
It featured in the Jamiroquai music video for his song Love Foolosophy in 2001 – the year he bought it.
It was shipped over to Marbella, Spain and driven by Jay Kay with supermodel Heidi Klum in the back seat.
It reached Number 14 in the charts
In the door compartment there is still a cassette tape which reads: ‘Jamiroquai ‘Little L’ 1, Radio Edit, 2, Wounded Buffalo Remix.’
Little L got to Number 5 in the charts and was about his split from TV star Denise van Outen.
The blue Bentley will be put under the hammer by RM Sotheby’s in Chobham, Surrey this Saturday (4 November).
A spokesperson said: “By the late 1990s, Jamiroquai had risen to international stardom and were ranked as the third best-selling British artist of the decade, following the Spice Girls and Oasis.
“With their fifth studio album, A Funk Odyssey, set to be released to critical acclaim and commercial success in September of 2001, frontman Jay Kay could finally indulge in his life’s second passion: cars.
“Looking to purchase a Bentley in late 2000, Jay Kay was faced with the decision between purchasing this car or a “modern” Continental. For him, the decision was easy after experiencing both.
“Drawn to this car’s inherent charm and attractive colours, Kay purchased chassis BC40EL in January of 2001 through the renowned Bentley and Rolls-Royce specialist P&A Wood in Essex.
“This would become one of the first vehicles in his now-renowned collection, and has been one of the longest lasting.
“Maintained by P&A Wood throughout 2001 as Jay Kay sought to have the Bentley in perfect running order, he put approximately 2,000 miles on the car during his first year of ownership.
“The Bentley would intersect with Jay Kay’s personal and professional life in 2002, when it was decided that the car would feature in the music video for Love Foolosophy, Jamiroquai’s third single from A Funk Odyssey.”
The Sotheby’s spokesperson added: “Jay Kay’s friend and supermodel Heidi Klum had expressed interest in appearing in one of Jamiroquai’s music videos and in Kay’s opinion, his S1 Continental Drophead Coupé was the perfect complement to her beauty and charisma in the Love Foolosophy music video.
“The car was shipped to Marbella, Spain, to be used for the shoot, appearing prominently in the first third of the video, where Kay drives Klum, lounging gracefully across the rear bench seat.
“And an Afghan Hound riding shotgun next to Kay as they travel to a party across a picturesque mountain road.
“Remaining a cornerstone piece in Kay’s collection following its 15 minutes of fame in the Love Foolosophy music video, the Bentley has been very well looked after ever since.
“Its extensive history file includes numerous MoTs and service invoices from Kay’s ownership, with less than 5,000 miles covered since the video.
“Since the completion of the car’s restoration in the early 1990s, it has been driven less than 16,000 miles, with just under 7,000 miles being accumulated during Jay Kay’s ownership.
“Although it cannot be verified at this time, the car’s present odometer reading of approximately 40,000 miles is thought to be original, supported by numerous MoT certificates dating back to 1993.
“Undoubtedly one of the most fascinating S1 Continental Drophead Coupés to be offered in recent memory, it was only natural that these fantastic automobiles found their way into interesting homes when new, but few have found such fascinating owners since their heyday.
“Keenly aware that automobiles are at their best when exercised regularly, Jay Kay does his utmost to ensure that his cars are frequently enjoyed on the open road, and this car is no exception to that rule.
“It is a car that could easily be driven on a regular basis or across to continental Europe without hesitation.
“If this Bentley could satisfy a supermodel, a pure-bred Afghan Hound, and its rockstar owner for over two decades, it will have no problems living up to the expectations of its fortunate next custodian.”
A Bentley S1 Continental Drophead Coupé was previously sold by Sotheby’s five years ago for £1.27million.