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 is a luxury car produced by Bentley from 1959 until 1962. The successor to the S1, it featured the new Rolls-Royce - Bentley L Series V8 engine and improved air conditioning made possible by its increased output. Power steering was also standard, and a new dashboard and steering wheel were introduced. Some early S2s were built with the earlier S1 dashboard.

A high-performance S2-derived Continental edition was also produced.

In all, 1,920 standard and long-wheelbase S2 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.

S2

Announced at the beginning of October 1959^[1] the S2 replaced the S1's straight-six engine the a new aluminium Rolls-Royce - Bentley L Series V8 shared with the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II. It displaced 6.2 L (6230 cc/380 in³), and offered significantly improved performance.

As advertised in The Times, Friday, Oct 02, 1959:^[1]

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.

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

An "S2 Continental" chassis was built with higher performance engines and higher gearing for lighter bodywork.

Production

• S2 Continental: 388 (bodied by the same group of coachbuilders as the standard S2)

Gallery

• 

  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

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bentley S2.