Bentley S1

Bentley S

Manufacturer	Bentley Motors (1931) Limited, Crewe, Cheshire
Production	1955–1959 3538 produced
Assembly	Crewe, Cheshire, England
Predecessor	R Type
Successor	S2
Class	Full-size luxury car
Body style	4-door saloon 2-door coupe
Layout	FR layout
Platform	separate chassis
Engine	4.9 L I6
Transmission	4-speed automatic 4-speed manual
Wheelbase	123 in (3,100 mm) [1] 3225.8 mm (127 in)
Length	211.75 in (5,378 mm) [1]
Width	1898.65 mm (74¾ in)
Height	1631.95 mm (64¼ in)
Kerb weight	1,924 kg (4,242 lb)
Related	Bentley S1 Continental Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud

The Bentley S was a luxury car produced by Bentley Motors Limited from 1955 until 1959.

Bentley (and Rolls-Royce)'s first true complete redesign of their standard production car after World War II and their last standard production car with an independent chassis.

These cars were given a new V8 engine in late 1959, and those cars are identified as S2. Twin headlamps and a facelift to the front arrived in late 1962, and those cars are known as S3.

This shape remained in production with those modifications until late 1965 when it was replaced with the completely new chassisless monocoque T series.

Contents 1 Bentley standard sports saloon[2] 2 Standard and long wheelbase saloon and chassis 3 Production of standard specification cars 4 Bentley Continental 5 Production of Continentals 6 References

Bentley standard sports saloon^[2]

It was announced at the end of April 1955, and it was noted that the existing Continental model would continue. The new standard sports saloon replaced the R type standard steel sports saloon which had been in production, with modifications, since 1945. It was a more generously-sized five or six seater saloon with the body manufactured in pressed steel with stressed skin construction. Doors, bonnet and luggage locker lid were of aluminium.

Having a totally new external appearance, although with the traditional radiator, the main differences from the R type were:

• three inches longer wheelbase
• lower build without reducing headroom and with an enlarged luggage boot
• softer suspension with electrically operated control of rear dampers
• lighter steering and improved braking
• engine capacity increased to 4887cc, the same size as used in the Bentley Continental
• four speed automatic gearbox was standard, with ability to select individual ratios if desired.

Standard and long wheelbase saloon and chassis

As with the preceding Mark VI and R type Bentleys, there was almost no difference between standard Bentley and Rolls-Royce models; this Bentley S differing only in its radiator shape and badging from the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I.

The models shared the 4.9 L (4887 cc/298 in³) straight-6 engine. They were the last vehicles to be powered by descendants of the engine originally used in the Rolls-Royce Twenty from 1922 to 1929. The bore was 95.25 mm (3.7 in), stroke was 114.3 mm (4.5 in) and compression ratio 6.6:1. Twin SU carburetors were fitted, with upgraded models from 1957. A 4-speed automatic transmission was standard, with a 4-speed manual available as an option until 1957.

Two wheelbases were produced: 123 in (3124 mm) and, from 1957, 127 in (3226 mm).

A standard wheelbase car tested by the British magazine The Motor in 1957 had a top speed of 103 mph (166 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 13.1 seconds. A fuel consumption of 16.1 miles per imperial gallon (17.5 L/100 km; 13.4 mpg_-US) was recorded. The test car, which had the optional power steering, cost £6305 including taxes of £1803. ^[1]

Production of standard specification cars

• S: 3072 (145 with coachbuilt bodies)
• S long wheelbase: 35 (12 with coachbuilt bodies)

Park Ward Continental Drophead Coupé
also available as a Fixed-Head Coupé

Manufacturer	Park Ward London on chassis provided by Bentley Motors (1931) Limited, Crewe, Cheshire
Assembly	Crewe Cheshire then London, England
Class	Full-size luxury car
Body style	4-seater 2-door fixed head coupé or drophead coupé
Layout	FR layout
Platform	separate chassis
Engine	4.9 L I6
Transmission	4-speed automatic 4-speed manual
Wheelbase	123 in (3,100 mm) [1] 3225.8 mm (127 in)
Length	210.5 in (5,350 mm) [1]
Width	1828.8 mm (72 in)
Height	1587.5 mm (62½ in)
Kerb weight	1,803.5 kg (3,976 lb)
Related	Bentley S1 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud

Bentley Continental

A high-performance version S Continental (chassis only) was introduced six months later, lighter weight fixed head and drophead coupé bodies were provided to special order for a premium of about 50% by H. J. Mulliner & Co., Park Ward, James Young and Freestone & Webb. A pre-production 2-seater fixed-head coupé on the new chassis was designed and built for the Bentley factory by Pininfarina.

Production of Continentals

• S Continental: 431

References

type / class	1920s		1930s				1940s		1950s		1960s		1970s		1980s		1990s				2000s				2010s
	Bentley Motors Limited (1919–1931)			Rolls-Royce Bentley Motors (1931) Limited (1931–1980)											Vickers plc Rolls-Royce Bentley Motors (1931) Limited (1980–1998)					Volkswagen Group (1998–>)
coachbuilder's open 2/4 seater	3 L	4½ L 6½ L Speed Six
coachbuilder's large saloon coupé or convertible		6½ L Speed Six 8 L		4L 3½  4¼L Mark V				Mark VI	R	S1 S2 S3		T
		C o n t	Continental S1 Continental S2 Continental S3
	cars with Bentley own-factory coachwork
large saloon								Mark VI	R	S1 S2 S3		T1		T2	Mulsanne		Brooklands				Arnage				Mulsanne
																Turbo R
coupé																	Continental R/S/T
convertible																			Azure
	Bentleys on the Volkswagen platform
large saloon																							Continental Flying Spur
coupé																						Continental GT
convertible																						C GTC
founder: Walter Owen Bentley • A marque of the Volkswagen Group • Bentley Boys