1963 Bentley S3 Continental

The Bentley S3 Continental was introduced in August of 1962 and was strictly coachbuilt. Power was from a 6,230cc overhead valve V8 engine allied to a four-speed automatic transmission. The final S3 was delivered in 1966, when Rolls-Royce introduced its new Silver Shadow and Bentley its T-Series.

The S-Type generation of six-cylinder cars arrived in 1955, with the V8-engined S2 being introduced in 1959. The S2 appeared externally unchanged, however, its performance was considerably enhanced by the new 6,230cc V8 engine. Power-assisted steering was now standard and there was no longer the option of a manual gearbox, Rolls-Royce's own four-speed automatic being the sole offering.

The bodies of the Bentley S3 Continental were formed from aluminum, unlike the heavier, steel-bodied S3 saloon. Equipped with the higher gearing and better compression ratios from the overhead-valve, aluminum, 6,230cc V8 engine, the S3 Continental was a markedly faster car. The Continental would become synonymous with effortless high-speed cruising in the grandest of traditions.

The Bentley Continental was exclusively a coach-built automobile. The firms of H J Mulliner, Park Ward, and James Young all offered bodies on the Continental chassis. The major styling innovation of the S3 was the quad headlamps. Fog lights were still fitted, but these no longer also functioned as flashing indicators. The indicators on these new models were now incorporated into the redesigned sidelights, positioned on the front of the wings. Aside from the headlamps, the most significant change to the S3 was the engine, which boasted an increased compression ratio, larger carburetors, and a Lucas vacuum-advance distributor. These modifications helped raised peak power by some 7%. There was also improved power steering to ease maneuvering at parking speeds. Another minor modification was the adoption of smaller bumper over-riders and a slightly reduced radiator height of about 1.5 inches, giving a sloping bonnet line and improving forward vision. The individual front seats and armrests became standard, and more powerful lighting and additional indication lights and switches on the instrument panel were introduced.

A total of 312 (as many as 328) examples of the S3 Continental were built with H.J. Mulliner providing coachwork for 68 and Park Ward with 148. The merged concern of H.J. Mulliner, Park Ward bodied 75 examples and James Young bodied 20 examples. Graber bodied a single chassis.

The S3 Continental's exclusivity was guaranteed by its 40 to 50% premium over the already expensive S3.

by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2019