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Books Models Highlights Cars
of 1998 More Bentleys in these books: |
Car
of the Month - December 2001
As regards technical layout only minor differences distinguished the Bentley S1 Continental from the mainstream model Bentley S1. Chassis and engine were common to both - though on early series of the S1 Continental the engine showed a slightly raised compression. In connection with a “longer” rear axle ratio a higher top speed was gained. A test in The Autocar (21st Dec 1956 issue) reported a top speed of 120.5 mph had been measured - not even the later S2 Continental and S3 Continental models powered by 6¼-litre-V8engines ever achieved a better result during tests by journalists.
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 The
lion's share of bodies were made by H.J. Mulliner
and most of the output of this coachbuilder was similar to their ¼-scale
model as illustrated here. This was a “traditional” styling, in so far
as it could be traced back to the fastback two door saloons built by H.J.
Mulliner for the predecessor Bentley R Continental. A few Bentley R
Continental had been clothed by Park Ward, too, who
built 2 coupes and 4 drop head coupes. The drawings had been provided by
John Polwhele Blatchley. He had become boss of Rolls-Royce's styling
centre and thus had some influence at Park Ward, because Park Ward was a
wholly owned subsidiary of Rolls-Royce.
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An automatic gearbox was standard on the Bentley S1 Continental. The Hydramatic gearbox developed by General Motors, was produced by Rolls-Royce under license. Several customer expressed a desire for a manual gearbox - and their wish was command. No less an authority than the late Stanley Sedgwick, Patron of the Bentley Drivers' Club, in his “Twenty Years of Crewe Bentleys 1946-1965” stated the last manual gearbox had been fitted to Bentley S1 Continental with chassis number #BC79BG. Most presumably Stanley had taken this information from factory documents. However these might have been slightly inaccurate because the S1 Continental shown here is from a later chassis-series and extras are a sliding sunroof - and a manual gearbox…
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Park
Ward's coupé version met with much acclaim and - accordingly adapted to
the Bentley S1 Continental chassis with increased wheelbase and wider
track - was offered for the R-type's successor, too. Rolls-Royce nor
Bentley preferred the term “two door saloon” instead of coupé
(although in fact this was one). The price tag on the complete car for a
purchaser in the home market was £7.164; that did include £2.389
purchase tax.
