Bentley S2 Continental

Bentley
Vilhelm Korens Bentley S2 Continental Drophead Coupé (Park Ward)
S2 Continental
Production period:	1959-1962
Class :	Upper class
Body versions :	Sedan , coupe , convertible
Engines:	Otto engine : 6.2 liters
Length:
Width:
Height:
Wheelbase :	3124 mm
Empty weight :
Previous model	Bentley S1 Continental
successor	Bentley S3 Continental

The Bentley S2 Continental is a luxury vehicle, which Bentley produced from 1959 to 1962 in 388 copies. The Continental was a special model of the Bentley S2 that pursued a sporty claim. It replaced the S1 Continental . The Continental S2, fitted with individual bodies, was one of the most expensive automobiles of its time.

background

Bentley badge on a radiator

In 1952, the Bentley brand, which belongs to Rolls-Royce, presented the R-Type Continental, a sporty alternative to the standard models of the R series , which was predominantly equipped with a two-door hatchback body from HJ Mulliner . When Bentley replaced the R-Type with the S1 in April 1955 , the company launched a new Continental series based on the same technology as the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud . As in the case of the R-Type, Bentley only supplied the ready-to-drive chassis, while the bodies continued to be manufactured by independent body manufacturers according to individual customer requirements. Bentley continued this concept after the introduction of the revised S2, especially in the technical area. The Continental was still only available as a Bentley; a Rolls-Royce counterpart was not offered.

technology

The technology of the Continental S2 corresponded almost completely to that of the standard S2 and thus the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II. Like the standard model, the Continental S2 also used a steel ladder frame . In both cases, the newly developed light metal eight-cylinder engine with a displacement of 6.2 liters served as the drive. The engine was 14 kg lighter than the previous six-cylinder in-line engine and at the same time offered 25% more power. On the other hand, the automatic transmission, which is now available as standard, was designed for comfortable gear changes and thus equalized part of the increase in performance. The chassis and suspension remained unchanged from the S1.

Bodies

As with the previous models, there were no standard factory bodies for the S2 Continental chassis. The superstructures were predominantly made by British coachbuilders .

HJ Mulliner

The body construction company HJ Mulliner, which was still independent at the time, provided for two different bodies. The two-door hatchback body, which is very popular on the R-Type Continental and the S1 Continental, was omitted. Instead, Mulliner offered a four-door body called the S2 Continental Flying Spur , which Herbert Nye had already designed for the previous model, as well as a two-door version with a notchback derived from it. With 128 copies, the four-door Flying Spur was the most successful model of all S2 Continental variants. Mulliner's two-door car sold 96 times. The Flying Spur is available in the classic market 50 years after production was discontinued for prices between £ 40,000 and £ 100,000, the Mulliner Coupe is twice as expensive.

Park Ward

The body builder Park Ward , which belongs to Rolls-Royce , offered a four-seater convertible with a smooth-surfaced pontoon body. The waistline ran horizontally from the headlights to the tail fins, and chrome jewelry on the side was largely eliminated. The creator of the design was the independent Norwegian designer Vilhelm Koren . A total of 125 copies of Park Ward's Cabriolet were built by 1962. Koren's design is often considered to be the most successful or most remarkable interpretation of the Continental theme. shaped the lines of most of the bodies of the successor model, the S3 Continental, produced from 1962 . These vehicles, fitted with offset double headlights ("Chinese Eyes"), are among the most sought-after versions of the entire Continental range; Rolls-Royce also offered a similarly designed special version based on the Silver Cloud III.

James Young

The body manufacturer James Young , based in the London borough of Bromley , also produced some four-door sedans for the S2 Continental. The layout of the James Young Flying Spurs corresponded to that of the Mulliner sedan; but the design was different in some details. This was especially true for the trunk line, which had larger curves, and for the shape of the fenders. Forty examples of James Young's four-door sedan were made; there were also a few two-door versions with a comparable structure.

Further structures

Hooper and Graber produced a few other special bodies for the S2 Continental.

gallery

• 

  S2 Continental 2 Door Saloon by HJ Mulliner

• 

  S2 Continental Flying Spur Six-Light Saloon by HJ Mulliner

• 

  S2 Continental Flying Spur by HJ Mulliner

• 

  Park Ward's S2 Continental Drophead Coupé

• 

  Park Ward's S2 Continental Drophead Coupé

See also

Bentley Continental

literature

• Mike Goodbun, Mark Fagelson: Choice of the Connoisseurs . Model history of the R-Type and S-Type Continentals. In: Thoroughbred & Classic Cars, issue 12/2010, p. 44 ff.
• Jonathan Wood: Rolls-Royce & Bentley. The story of a legendary brand . Heel Verlag 2003, ISBN 3-89880-106-3 .

Web links

Commons : Bentley Continental S2  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c d} Thoroughbred & Classic Cars, issue 12/2010, p. 44 ff.
2. ↑ In 1961 Mulliner was taken over by Rolls-Royce and merged with Park Ward to form the new company Mulliner Park Ward.
3. ↑ Image of the S2 Continental Park Ward Drophead Coupé on the website www.coachbuild.com (accessed on February 22, 2013).
4. ^ ^{A b} Wood: Rolls-Royce & Bentley, p. 46.
5. ^ Image of the S2 Continental from Hooper on the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts Club website (accessed on February 22, 2013).