Especially when lined up alongside contemporary Bentleys, the low-slung nature of the Invicta S-Type is immediately apparent. A mere 77 examples of the British sports car were reportedly built, with chassis number S40 completed in March 1931 wearing Vanden Plas “Sports 4-seater” bodywork. Entries in the famed coachbuilder’s order book indicate that Vanden Plas would dress just 19 Invictas, with only 11 being S-Types.

Finished identically to the S-Type exhibited at the 1930 British Motor Show (the Vanden Plas order book reads: “as show model”), chassis S40 was first registered for road use on 13 March 1931. It was assigned the registration number “WD 2024”, as the car wears at the time of auction. The first owner, Mr John Harry Ansell, who would later own a second low-chassis Invicta, purchased the car via Birmingham dealership Flewitt Ltd. Come 1938, the S-Type was registered to Clifford Motors in Southampton.

Between 1940 and 1942, chassis S40 belonged to Sub-Lieutenant T Thistlewaite—most likely Tom ‘Scrap’ Thistlewaite, who raced for the Works Bentley team in the 1926 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. A new owner took possession in June 1942, but only for two months before selling it to noted collector George Edward Milligen. According to Milligen, he came to buy the Invicta so swiftly because the seller had escaped police pursuit by taking up residency aboard a yacht in Malta.

Milligen had the Invcita repainted in RAF Blue and would, over the next six decades of ownership, cover more than 50,000 miles in chassis S40. Under his meticulous care, the car was submitted in 1955 to The Laystall Motor Engineering Works for a rebuild of the 4.5-litre Meadows six-cylinder engine, boosting output from 126 to a fine 141 brake horsepower.

Following Milligen’s death in 2004, his collection was disbanded. The Invicta was bought by The Fighter Collection, based at Duxford Aerodrome, before being sent to vintage racing car expert Blakeney Motorsport for a mechanical overhaul in 2010. Rebuilding the SU carburettors, water pump, front axle, brakes, and propshaft meant the S-Type was ready for Patrick Blakeney-Edwards to drive chassis S40 up the Prescott hill climb with the Vintage Sports-Car Club later that year.

Acquired by the vendor, a member of The Invicta Car Club, chassis S40 was taken to Setford and Company for a body-off restoration carried out between May 2017 and January 2020. The car was checked over and the original ‘Sanction 0’ Meadows engine—fitted with small main bearing caps, a unique camshaft drive, and starter motor—was rebuilt with a new crankshaft, rods, and pistons. This S-Type now features closer gear ratios plus a high-ratio touring crown wheel and pinion axle, while the suspension was refreshed in line with original specification using photographs in the history file that date back to the late 1940s. Furthermore, a chronometric clock, sourced from a Bristol Blenheim light bomber, was added to aid with timing on long-distance driving tours. Once completed, the corresponding VSCC Eligibility Document was issued on 8 November 2018

Chassis S40 would go on to be displayed at the Heveningham Hall Concours in September 2019, raced one at Donington Park, and has been driven extensively across mainland Europe. As such, the Invicta would make for a brilliant companion for continental journeys cruising at motorway speeds, in addition to being eligible for ongoing participation in numerous prestigious concours and race events.

Finished in RAF Blue with a red coachline to match the red leather upholstery, the Invicta is supplied with a tonneau cover and—in addition to myriad invoices and the VSCC Eligibility Document—the sizeable history file is supported by eight MoT certificates dating back to April 1964 and a period “buff” logbook. The car is also accompanied by a selection of original components, although the vendor notes that these are unserviceable (for more information, please speak to an RM Sotheby’s Specialist).

Boasting a compelling life story, including ownership by a ‘Bentley Boy’ and 60 years with George Milligen, chassis S40 deserves special attention even among the small pool of surviving Invicta 4½-Litre S-Types. This highly desirable pre-war sports car would therefore make for a rare, fascinating, and versatile entry into any stable of vintage automobiles.