Beschreibung:

1961 BENTLEY S2 CONTINENTAL COACHWORK BY JAMES YOUNG Registration No. Not UK Registered Chassis No. BC128 AR Engine No. A 12YBC Blue with magnolia leather interior Engine: V8, 6,230cc, overhead valves, twin SU carburettors; Gearbox: four speed automatic; Suspension: independent front by unequal length wishbones and coil springs, with opposed piston hydraulic dampers and torsional roll-bar, rear is semi-elliptic springs with electrically controlled piston-type dampers and single radius rod; Brakes: hydro-mechanical power-assisted drums; power-steering. Right hand drive. "Without doubt the Continental Bentley lives up to the traditional associations of its name: few cars would provide as rapid, restful and satisfying transport from, say, Paris to Nice. On arrival at its destination this potent vehicle at once reverts to the exceptionally docile and distinguished town carriage" . Autocar Road Test, December 1960. The Bentley S2 was a high-performance version of the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud, which had gained a brand-new 6.2 litre V8 engine in 1959; the Continental was the higher performance version of the Bentley, which came with power-steering and hydromechanical power-assisted brakes. Thus this car was, in its day, a very much state of the art up-market sporting machine, and most rewarding to drive. The heart of this excellent model is an engine of General Motors design, 4.1in. bore by 3.6in. stroke with push-rod operated overhead valves, which drives through an automatic four speed gearbox also by GM. The power output of the engine is said to be in the region of 230bhp, which gives a speed on the road in excess of 110mph. The brakes are operated by large drums, activated by the Hispano-type gearbox-driven servo, and 8.20 x 18in. tyres are fitted. The original intent of the Continental chassis was for it to be equipped with only two door coachwork and it was 1957 before the company permitted coachbuilders to build a four door body. In their new design, the coachbuilder skilfully combined the practicality of four door coachwork with the breathtaking elegance, managing to achieve this without increasing the burden on the chassis. The six light was continued through the S series cars, but is arguably at its most elegant on the S2 chassis, where it retained the single headlight formation, but had a slightly lowered front profile for the revised radiator of the model. Originally supplied though Jack Barclay to The Daily Mirror Newspaper Ltd in Fetter Lane London, the only special feature that was specified was a Radio. The Newspaper owned the car for three years before it passed to the Hadley Green Garage in Barnet. Little of the car's history is known until the car went to Japan in the late 1980s. It is evident from the condition of the car that it has been fully restored recently, with the car's paintwork and interior being in excellent condition thoughout. During the restoration the car was fitted with an air-conditioning system with the vents being expertly surrounded in the wood to match the dashboard, giving the impression that it has been fitted since new. Due to the length of time the car has been in the collection, Christie's would recommend that a full mechanical inspection be completed before the car had any extensive use. Once completed we believe that this car would be a serious contender for a place in a Rolls-Royce Enthusiast Club or Bentley Drivers Club concours event.