Bentley S1 and Bentley S1 Continental
(1955 – 1959)
Bentley S1, 1958, #B403FD, Harold Radford Countryman. The special shape of the bootlid betrayes this one as a Harold Radford Countryman version.
A close inspection of the Bentley S1 left no doubt that Rolls-Royce had decided to restrict differences between the Silver Cloud I and the Bentley S1 to radiators and badging as there were no differences technically. The models shared the straight six cylinder F-engine with 4,887 cc now in its final stage of development. The body lines lent themselves to two-tone paintwork and usually on the Bentley S1 the bonnet top was finished in the lower colour (experts know that the side moulding on the Bentley bonnett doesn’t run up to the radiator edge as the one on the Silver Cloud model does). The mildly tuned Bentley S1 Continental was added within six months after introduction of the new model. This brisker performing variant distinguished itself by not being available with a standard coachwork; customers had to select an appropriate one from the choice offered by specialist coachbuilders.
Bentley S1, 1956, #B291AP. A coachbuilt 4 door 6 light saloon by H.J.
Mulliner on a standard chassis; sometimes mistaken as a Bentley S1
Continental.
Technical Data:
6 cylinder in-line configuration, cast iron cylinder block, bore x stroke 95.25 x 114.3 mm (3 3/4 x 4 1/2 in), capacity 4,887 cc; aluminium alloy cylinder head; twin SU carburettors type HD6 (from 1957 twin SU carburettors type HD8 on cars for North America, from 1957 standard on all models); 4-speed automatic gearbox ( manual 4-speed gearbox to special order); hypoid bevel final drive; independent front suspension with coil springs, semi-elliptic springs rear; drum brakes servo-assisted; wheelbase 3,124.2 mm (from 1957 long wheelbase 3,225.8 mm available); tyre size 8.20×15 (Bentley S1 Continental 7.60 x 15 or 8.00 x 15).
Bentley S1 Continental, 1955, #BC73AF, H.J. Mulliner Fastback Saloon. Only subtle design changes distinguish H.J. Mulliner’s S1 Continental Fastback Saloon from their much acclaimed creation for the previous R Continental.
No. made:
|
3072 |
Bentley S1 (145 were fitted with coachbuilt bodies) |
|
35 |
Bentley S1 long wheelbase (12 were fitted with coachbuilt bodies) |
|
431 |
Bentley S1 Continental |
|
3538 |
Bentley S1 altogether |