Bentley S2 2 Door Continental

Description

A cousin of the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II, the Bentley S2 debuted in September 1959, carrying an all-new, powerful aluminum overhead-valve V8 engine. While Rolls-Royce, Bentley’s parent firm, had long disdained the publication of horsepower ratings, the new V8, estimated to produce about 185 horsepower and, due to lower weight, made both the Silver Cloud II and S2 faster and quicker than their immediate predecessors. Remarkably, this basic V8 engine design would continue to be in use for over 60 years, until the modern Mulsanne ceased production in 2020. The S2 also introduced power-assisted steering as standard and featured a GM/Hydra-Matic four-speed automatic transmission; a manual gearbox was no longer available.

As before, a Continental variant was offered, with higher compression for better performance, a shorter radiator profile, upgraded braking, a higher rear axle ratio, and custom coachwork produced in limited series by Park Ward, H.J. Mulliner, and James Young. Total S2 Continental production was limited to a mere 2,308 cars, of which only 97 were the two-door Sports Saloon by H.J. Mulliner, 72 in right-hand drive.

This Bentley S2 Continental BC 36 AR is from the first S2 series and was delivered to A.D Robinson in the February of 1960. The chassis build card states the intended first owner to have been Geoffrey Vandervell. It was fitted with engine number A 35 BC and carried a 2-door saloon body by H.J Mulliner. This was the 2-door design number 7514 of which around 98 were built on the S2 chassis. This design, according to Martin Bennett’s book on the Continentals, “is arguably the best looking of all Bentley Continentals”.

The original UK registration number was 2 ABM, by 1963 it acquired the registration number YRJ 897. The first time the car was registered with the BDC was in 1963 when owned by J.H Mathew from Cornwall and the next record of it being owned by P. Knatchbull-Hugessen who owned it from 1966 to 1973. The only image we hold of the vehicle is when it took place in the BDC in 1996 Concours at Kensington Gardens, it gained a 1ST in Class G – for S Types.

Recent work conducted on the vehicle covers major service, brake overhaul, steering box removal, resealing and reinstallation, suspension overhaul, transmission service and adjustment, electrical work, light body restoration, and the tyres have been replaced.

This Bentley has been fitted with the S3 HD8 2” SU carburettors and S3 distributor with an increase in performance.

A file of the history is available upon request.