Bentley S2

Bentley S2
standard saloon
Overview
Manufacturer	Bentley Motors (1931) Limited, Crewe, Cheshire
Production	1959–1962 2308 produced
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door saloon 4-door saloon 2-door drophead coupe
Related	Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II
Powertrain
Engine	6.2 L Bentley V8
Dimensions
Wheelbase	3124.2 mm (123 in) 3225.8 mm (127 in)
Chronology
Predecessor	Bentley S1
Successor	Bentley S3

The Bentley S2 (and the high-performance Bentley Continental S2 derived from it) is a luxury car which was produced by Bentley from 1959 until 1962. The changed designation S2 was to mark the new V8 engine and the improved air conditioning which could now be run from it. Power steering was also standard, and a new dashboard and steering wheel were introduced. Some early S2s were built with the earlier S1 dashboard.

Announced at the beginning of October 1959^[1] as with the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II, the S2 replaced the straight-six engine of the Bentley S1 with a new aluminium V8 engine displacing 6.2 L (6230 cc/380 in³). With this new engine, the S2 offered significantly better performance than the previous cars.

The cylinder block and heads are cast in aluminum alloy and hydraulic tappets operate the overhead valves. The engine has a compression ratio of 8 to 1 and is fitted with twin carburetors with automatic choke.

Other features available include fully automatic transmission, power-assisted steering, electrically operated ride control, redesigned and more flexible air conditioning, electric rear window demisters and press button window lifts.

— Display advertisement, The Times, Friday, Oct 02, 1959

1,920 standard and long-wheelbase car chassis were built between 1959 and 1962. Almost all were fitted with standard factory bodywork. A number had coachbuilt bodies by Park Ward, Hooper, H. J. Mulliner & Co., and James Young.

388 more Continental chassis were built with higher performance engines and higher gearing for lighter bodywork built by the same group of coachbuilders.

• 

  Bentley S2
  standard saloon
  rear view

• 

  Bentley S2
  drophead coupé
  by H J Mulliner 1962

• 

  Bentley Continental S2 cabriolet
  by Park Ward 1962

• 

  Bentley Continental S2
  4-door saloon
  Flying Spur 1961
  by H J Mulliner

• 

  Bentley Continental S2
  4-door saloon
  Flying Spur 1959
  by H J Mulliner

Production

• S2: 1863 (15 with H. J. Mulliner & Co. drophead coupe bodies)
• S2 long wheelbase: 57 (5 with James Young bodies and 1 by Wendler)
• S2 Continental: 388

References

1. Display Advertising The Times, Friday, Oct 02, 1959; pg. 5; Issue 54581; col D