Bentley S1
Overview
Manufacturer	Bentley Motors (1931) Limited
Production	1955–1959 3,538 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 (3,124 mm) [1] 127 in (3,226 mm)
Length	211.75 in (5,378 mm) [1]
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

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, 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 named the S2. Twin headlamps and a facelift to the front arrived in late 1962, resulting in the S3. In late 1965, the S3 was replaced by the new unitary construction Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow-derived T series.

Bentley standard steel saloon

The car was announced at the end of April 1955,^[2] 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 [hood] and luggage locker lid [trunk lid] were of aluminium.

Having a totally new external appearance, although with the traditional radiator grille, the main differences from the R type were:

• three inches longer wheelbase
• lower build without reducing headroom and with an enlarged luggage boot [trunk]
• 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 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.

Two wheelbases were produced: 123 inches (3,100 mm) and, from 1957, 127 inches (3,200 mm).

A standard-wheelbase car tested by the British magazine The Motor in 1957 had a top speed of 103 mph (166 km/h) and could accelerate from 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) in 13.1 seconds. A fuel consumption of 16.1 miles per imperial gallon (17.5 L/100 km; 13.4 mpg_‑US) was recorded. The test car, which had the optional power steering, cost £6305 including taxes of £1803.^[1]

S Continental

Bentley S Continental
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
Assembly	Crewe, Cheshire, then London
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	Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud
Powertrain
Engine	4.9 L I6
Transmission	4-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	123 in (3,100 mm) [1] 3,225.8 mm (127.00 in)
Length	210.5 in (5,350 mm) [1]
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)

A high-performance version S Continental (chassis only) was introduced six months after the introduction of the S1. 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.

• 
  Park Ward
• 
  Park Ward
• 
  H. J. Mulliner
• 
  H. J. Mulliner
• 
  H. J. Mulliner

References

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