Bentley S1
Encyclopedia
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
.
Having a totally new external appearance, although with the traditional radiator, the main differences from the R type were:
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 (165.8 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (96.6 km/h) in 13.1 seconds. A fuel consumption of 16.1 mpgimp was recorded. The test car, which had the optional power steering, cost £6305 including taxes of £1803.
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
.
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
Chassis
A chassis consists of an internal framework that supports a man-made object. It is analogous to an animal's skeleton. An example of a chassis is the underpart of a motor vehicle, consisting of the frame with the wheels and machinery.- Vehicles :In the case of vehicles, the term chassis means the...
.
These cars were given a new V8 engine
Rolls-Royce - Bentley L Series V8 engine
The Crewe built Rolls-Royce - Bentley L Series V8 engine was used on many Rolls-Royce and Bentley motor cars in the four decades after its introduction in 1959...
in late 1959, and those cars are identified as S2
Bentley S2
The Bentley S2 was a luxury car 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...
. Twin headlamps and a facelift to the front arrived in late 1962, and those cars are known as S3
Bentley S3
The Bentley S3 is a four-door luxury car produced by Bentley from late 1962 until 1965.The S3 was very similar to the S2. The most-visible difference was a four-headlamp layout that paved the way for the radically new Bentley T1 in 1965. The interior was modified with individual seats for front...
.
This shape remained in production with those modifications until late 1965 when it was replaced with the completely new chassisless monocoque
Monocoque
Monocoque is a construction technique that supports structural load by using an object's external skin, as opposed to using an internal frame or truss that is then covered with a non-load-bearing skin or coachwork...
T series
Bentley T-series
The Bentley T-Series is an automobile which was produced by Bentley Motors Limited in the United Kingdom from 1965 to 1980. It was announced and displayed for the first time at the Paris Motor Show on 5 October 1965 as a Bentley-badged version of the totally-redesigned chassis-less Rolls-Royce...
.
Bentley standard sports saloon
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
Straight-6
The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...
engine. They were the last vehicles to be powered by descendants of the engine originally used in the Rolls-Royce Twenty
Rolls-Royce Twenty
The Rolls-Royce Twenty built between 1922 and 1929 was Rolls-Royce's "small car" for the 1920s and was produced alongside the 40/50 Silver Ghost and Phantom...
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
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
was standard, with a 4-speed manual
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
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
The Motor (magazine)
The Motor was a British weekly car magazine founded on 28 January 1903....
in 1957 had a top speed of 103 mph (165.8 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (96.6 km/h) in 13.1 seconds. A fuel consumption of 16.1 mpgimp was recorded. The test car, which had the optional power steering, cost £6305 including taxes of £1803.
Production of standard specification cars
- S: 3072 (145 with coachbuilt bodies)
- S long wheelbase: 35 (12 with coachbuilt bodies)
Bentley Continental
H. J. Mulliner & Co.
H. J. Mulliner & Co. was a well-known British coachbuilder operating at Chiswick in West London.The Mulliner family can trace their coachbuilding history back to 1760, building coaches for the Royal Mail in Northampton....
, Park Ward
Park Ward
Park Ward was a British coachbuilder founded by William M. Park and Charles W. Ward in 1919. They had worked together at F.W. Berwick Ltd., the makers of Sizaire-Berwick cars.Their business operated from Willesden, North London.-History:...
, James Young
James Young (coachbuilder)
James Young Ltd was a British coachbuilding company. The business was started in 1863 in LondonRoad, Bromley. originally producing horsedrawn carriages....
and Freestone & Webb
Freestone and Webb
Freestone and Webb were an English coachbuilder, most notably for Rolls-Royce and Bentley motor cars.The company was formed in 1923 by V.E. Freestone and A.J. Webb as a specialist coachbuilding service, based in workshops in Brentfield Road, Willesden, North London, which became its home for its...
. A pre-production 2-seater fixed-head coupé on the new chassis was designed and built for the Bentley factory by Pininfarina
Pininfarina
Pininfarina S.p.A. is an Italian car design firm and coachbuilder in Cambiano, Italy.Founded as Società anonima Carrozzeria Pinin Farina in 1930 by automobile designer and builder Battista "Pinin" Farina, Pininfarina has been employed by a wide variety of high-end automobile manufacturers,...
.