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1958 Bentley Continental S1

Bentley applied the 'Continental' name to several models they produced, and each time, it evoked high-speed travel over extended distances in style in luxury. The first post-war Bentley to be bestowed with the Continental nameplate was the R-Type, from June 1952 to April 1955. These continentals received high-performance engines and special lightweight bodies. Approximately 208 examples were built before the arrival of the S-Type.

1958 Bentley Continental S1 photo
Two Door Hardtop Coupe by Park Ward & Co.
Chassis #: BC22FM
View info and history
The Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud and Bentley S-Type (S1) were built as a replacement for the aging Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn and Bentley R-Type. They were introduced in 1955 and given sleeker bodywork, improved brakes, and suspension, and built upon a new box-section separate chassis. The wheelbase grew by three inches to 123. Power assist steering was optional. Under the hood was an inlet-over-exhaust 6-cylinder engine enlarged to 4,887cc. Both the Rolls-Royce and Bentley, for the first time, had identical specifications. The 4-speed GM Hydra-Matic automatic gearbox was now standard equipment, with manual transmission being a Bentley-only option up to 1957. The S1 had a top speed of just over 103 mph and could go from zero-to-sixty mph in 13.1 seconds.

Production of the S1 Bentley lasted from 1955 through 1959, with a total of 3,538 examples built. Continentals accounted for only 431 of the total, all of them coach-built. The high-performance S Continental was introduced six months after the introduction of the S1. The most prolific coachbuilder was H.J. Mulliner, who was responsible for 218 in several different styles. Built to special order, the list of coachbuilders included Freestone & Webb, James Young, H.J. Mulliner, and Park Ward.

The 1958 Bentley Continental S1 rested on a 123-inch rigid welded box-section wheelbase chassis and had an overall length of 212 inches, stood 64.25 inches tall, and was 74.75 inches wide. The F-head, six-cylinder engine had a cast iron block, aluminum head, overhead intake valves, side exhausts, solid valve lifters, seven main bearings, two SU carburetors, and delivered nearly 180 horsepower. A three-way safety braking setup enabled sure stops at the end of those high-speed journeys. The front suspension was via unequal-length wishbones, coil springs, and anti-roll bars while the rear utilized a rigid axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, electrically-controlled piston-type shock absorbers, and anti-roll bars. The electrically controlled suspension could be changed to 'normal' or 'hard' by a switch on the steering column. Power steering was standard near the close of 1958. Air conditioning and power windows became available in 1958.

1958 Bentley Continental S1 photo
Two Door Hardtop Coupe by Park Ward & Co.
Chassis #: BC48LCH
Engine #: BC47C
View info and history
Auction entries : 1
The successive S2 and S3 Continentals were V-8 powered and offered well into the 1960s.


by Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2019

Related Reading : Bentley S1 and Continental History

When Bentley was purchased by the Volkswagen conglomerate in 1998, many fans of the marque feared the brand would lose its identity. With long time brother Rolls-Royce getting sold off to a different parent company, though, those worries were unwarranted. Prior to the 1930s, Rolls-Royce and Bentley were serious competitors. Both firms offered their unique interpretations on the English gentlemans....
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Related Reading : Bentley S1 and Continental History

The Bentley S1 was produced from 1955 through 1959 with 3538 examples were created and 145 being outfitted with custom bodies. 431 examples were Bentley S1 Continentals. Thirty-five of the Bentley S1s sat atop a long wheelbase. Some of the notable coachbuilders who outfitted the S1s were Park Ward and H.J. Mulliner. The Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I and the Bentley S1 were nearly identical, except....
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1958 Bentley Continental S1 Vehicle Profiles

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Performance and Specification Comparison

Price Comparison

$335-$18,600
1958 Continental S1
1958 Bentley Continental S1 Base Price : $18,600

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S1 and Continental

Specification Comparison by Year

Year
Production
Wheelbase
Engine
Prices
123.00 in.
6 cyl., 298.22 CID., 178.00hp
$12,000 - $12,000
123.00 in.
6 cyl., 298.22 CID., 177.00hp
123.00 in.
6 cyl., 298.00 CID., 178.00hp
123.00 in.
6 cyl., 298.00 CID., 178.00hp
$18,600 - $18,600
123.00 in.
8 cyl., 380.18 CID., 200.00hp

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