Bentley S1
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(March 2019) |
| Bentley S1 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Bentley Motors Limited (1931) |
| Production | 1955–1959 3,538 produced |
| Assembly | Crewe,Cheshire,England |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Full-sizeluxury car |
| Body style | 4-doorsaloon 2-doorcoupe |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Platform | separate chassis |
| Related | Bentley S1 Continental Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 4.9 LI6 |
| Transmission | 4-speedautomatic |
| 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+3⁄4in) |
| Height | 1,631.95 mm (64+1⁄4in) |
| Kerb weight | 1,924 kg (4,242 lb) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | R Type |
| Successor | S2 |
TheBentley S1(originally simply "Bentley S" ) was aluxury carproduced byBentley Motors Limitedfrom 1955 until 1959. The S1 was derived from Rolls-Royce's complete redesign of its standard production car after World War II, theSilver Cloud.Each was its maker's last standard production car with an independentchassis.The S-series Bentley was given theRolls-Royce - Bentley L Series V8 enginein late 1959 and named theS2.Twin headlamps and a facelift to the front arrived in late 1962, resulting in theS3.In late 1965, the S3 was replaced by the new unitary constructionRolls-Royce Silver Shadow-derivedT series.
Bentley standard steel saloon
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The car was announced at the end of April 1955,[2]and it was noted that the existingContinentalmodel 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
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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 theRolls-Royce Silver Cloud I.
The models shared the 4.9 L (4887 cc/298 in³)straight-6engine. They were the last vehicles to be powered by descendants of the engine originally used in theRolls-Royce Twentyfrom 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 SUcarburetorswere fitted, with upgraded models from 1957. A 4-speedautomatic transmissionwas 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 magazineThe Motorin 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]
Production
[edit]- S: 3,072 (145 with coachbuilt bodies)
- S long wheelbase: 35 (12 with coachbuilt bodies)
S Continental
[edit]| Bentley S Continental | |
|---|---|
 Park Ward Continental Fixed-Head Coupé, also available as a Drophead Coupé | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Park Ward,London, on chassis provided by Bentley Motors (1931) Limited |
| Assembly | Crewe,Cheshire, thenLondon |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Full-sizeluxury car |
| Body style | 4-seater 2-door fixed-head coupé or dropheadcoupé |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Platform | separate chassis |
| Related | Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 4.9 LI6 |
| Transmission | 4-speedautomatic |
| 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+1⁄2in) |
| Kerb weight | 1,803.5 kg (3,976 lb) |
A high-performance versionS 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%) byH. J. Mulliner & Co.,Park Ward,James YoungandFreestone & Webb.A pre-production 2-seater fixed-head coupé on the new chassis was designed and built for the Bentley factory byPininfarina.
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Park Ward -
Park Ward -
H. J. Mulliner -
H. J. Mulliner -
H. J. Mulliner
Production
[edit]- S Continental: 431[citation needed]
References
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