Bentley Continental

Bentley has used the Continental name on several generations of luxury automobiles since 1952.

From 1952 to 1965

The 'Embiricos' Bentley by Portout of Paris 1938
acknowledged inspiration for the Continental Bentleys^[1]

Following World War II, Bentley moved to resume production of civilian automobiles, and its factory was relocated to Crewe, England from Derby. There, Bentley engineers produced so-called R-Type Continentals for three years, from 1952 to 1955.^[2] These were derivatives of the original R-Type,^[3] the second series in Bentley's postwar luxury lineup.

The R-Type Continental's chassis was independently produced and sold to custom coach-builders. One of the world's most expensive automobiles,^[4] only about 208 R-Type Continentals were built in total.

Following the R-Type Continental, the Continental S1, S2 and S3 were released consecutively beginning in 1955. The S1 was well received, 49 being built^[5] though some reviewers considered the boot space inadequate.^[6] The deficiency was addressed on later vehicles.^[7] The S2, unveiled in 1959, debuted with a new L Series V-8 engine,^[8] still used in contemporary Bentleys like the Mulsanne. It also incorporated air conditioning and standard power steering, considered cutting-edge amenities at the time. The S3, for its part, was distinguishable by its "four-headlamps in the front wings."^[9]

During the 1950s and early '60s, the Bentley Continental was marketed for its powerful engine and lowered suspensions, thought to improve performance for high-speed touring. The fastback coupe's distinctive angle-free, lightweight design also helped establish its British manufacturers' prosperity for the post-war era. In 2008, a 1954 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback was sold at auction^[10] at the Sports & Classics of Monterey event for a sum exceeding half a million dollars.

The second generation of the Continental ended in 1965 with the introduction of the replacement T Series.^[11] The Continental nameplate would not be revived until 1984.

Production Timeline

1952 to 1965

• 1952 Bentley Continental Mark VI
• 1952–1955 Bentley Continental R-type
• 1955–1959 Bentley Continental S1
• 1959–1962 Bentley Continental S2
• 1962–1965 Bentley Continental S3

1984 to 2002 - post-coachbuilder cars

With the introduction of the Bentley T-series with its unitary construction, Continental chassis were no longer made available to coachbuilders.

• 1984–1995 Bentley Continental
• 1991–2002 Bentley Continental R
• 1994–1995 Bentley Continental S
• 1996–2002 Bentley Continental T

2003 to date - post-Vickers cars

• 2003– Bentley Continental GT
• 2005– Bentley Continental Flying Spur
• 2006– Bentley Continental GTC
• 2009– Bentley Continental Supersports

• Continental models from 1952 to present day
• 

  Bentley Continental 1952-1955
  body by H J Mulliner
• 

  Bentley Continental S1
  drophead coupé by Park Ward 1955
• 

  Bentley Continental S3
  Flying Spur by H J Mulliner 1962

• post-coachbuilder Continentals
• 

  1988 Bentley Continental
• 

  1998 Bentley Continental R
• 

  2005 Bentley Continental GT

References

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bentley Continental.

• Bentley
• Bentley S3