Bentley S | |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | Bentley Motors (1931) Limited, Crewe, Cheshire |
Production | 1955–1959 3538 produced |
Assembly | Crewe, Cheshire, England |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Full-size luxury car |
Body style | 4-door saloon 2-door coupe |
Layout | FR layout |
Platform | separate chassis |
Related | Bentley S1 Continental Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 4.9 L I6 |
Transmission | 4-speed automatic |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 123 in (3,100 mm) 127 inches (3,200 mm) |
Length | 211.75 in (5,378 mm) |
Width | 1,898.65 mm (74 3⁄4 in) |
Height | 1,631.95 mm (64 1⁄4 in) |
Kerb weight | 1,924 kg (4,242 lb) |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | R Type |
Successor | S2 |
Bentley S Continental | |
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Park Ward Continental Drophead Coupé
also available as a Fixed-Head Coupé |
|
Overview | |
Manufacturer |
Park Ward London on chassis provided by Bentley Motors (1931) Limited, Crewe, Cheshire |
Assembly | Crewe Cheshire then London, England |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Full-size luxury car |
Body style | 4-seater 2-door fixed head coupé or drophead coupé |
Layout | FR layout |
Platform | separate chassis |
Related | Bentley S1 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 4.9 L I6 |
Transmission | 4-speed automatic |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 123 in (3,100 mm) 3,225.8 mm (127.00 in) |
Length | 210.5 in (5,350 mm) |
Width | 1,828.8 mm (72.00 in) |
Height | 1,587.5 mm (62 1⁄2 in) |
Kerb weight | 1,803.5 kg (3,976 lb) |
The Bentley S1 (originally simply "Bentley S") was a luxury car produced by Bentley Motors Limited from 1955 until 1959.
The S1 was derived from Rolls-Royce's complete redesign of its standard production car after World War II, dubbed the Silver Cloud; each was its maker's last standard production car with an independent chassis.
The S-series Bentley was given the Rolls-Royce - Bentley L Series V8 engine in late 1959, and designated the S2. Twin headlamps and a facelift to the front arrived in late 1962, resulting in the model designation S3.
In late 1965 the S3 was replaced by the completely new monocoque Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow-derived T series.
It was announced at the end of April 1955, and it was noted that the existing Continental model would continue. The new standard steel saloon replaced the R type standard steel saloon which had been in production, with modifications, since 1946. 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 grille, the main differences from the R type were:
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 grille 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 (3.750 in), stroke was 114.3 mm (4.50 in) and compression ratio 6.6:1. Twin SU carburetors were fitted, with upgraded models from 1957. A 4-speed automatic transmission was standard.