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1956 Bentley S1

When Bentley introduced their R-Type Continental in 1952, it had a top speed of 120 mph and was hailed as 'the fastest four-seat car in the world.' For motoring enthusiasts, this was to be expected based on the company's racing heritage and their proven ability to produce the finest performance-oriented motorcar. The R-Type was replaced in 1955 by the S-Series, which also had a Continental variant. With a higher compression ratio and taller gearing, the S-Type Continental chassis provided an excellent foundation for bespoke, lightweight coachwork.

The S Series had a long chassis (measuring 211.75 inches in length compared to 200-inches of the R-Type) which many feared would degrade the car's performance. This was not so, as the engine received an increase in displacement and the rear-axle ratio was changed to provide performance levels on par with the model it replaced. The suspension was improved which gave the car a nicer ride while improving its performance.

The Bentley S1, originally dubbed the 'Bentley S', was introduced at the end of April 1955, and like the preceding Mark VI and R type Bentleys, there were only minor differences between standard Bentley and Rolls-Royce models. The Bentley S and the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I shared the 298 cubic-inch (4.9 liter) straight-6 engine, a descendant of the engine that powered the Rolls-Royce Twenty, first introduced in 1922. It had a 3.75-inch bore, a 4.5-inches troke, 6.6:1 compression, and was paired with a four-speed automatic transmission. Differences between the S and the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I were with the badging and the radiator grille shape.

The Bentley S1 initially rested on a 123-inch wheelbase platform, joined in 1957 by a 127-inch platform. Most used the shorter wheelbase platform; 35 used the long wheelbase while 3,072 examples rested on the shorter platform.

The Standard Steel Saloon fulfilled the company's commercial requirements, but for clients who required something more, Bentley offered the Continental in chassis form. The Continental was introduced six months after the arrival of the S1, and they were given fixed head and drophead coupe coachwork by Park Ward, James Young, H.J. Mulliner & Co., and Freestone and Webb. Of these four, James Young and Hooper would soon cease coachbuilding, leaving only Mulliner and Park Ward to carry on the tradition. Rolls-Royce consolidated its in-house coachbuilding capabilities in 1959 by acquiring H.J. Mulliner and two years later the firm was merged with Park Ward, which had been acquired in 1939. H.J. Mulliner bodied 218 examples of the S-Type Continentals and Park Ward bodied 185 examples of the remaining 213.

The final iteration of the W.O. Bentley-designed straight-six engine was introduced in 1956, with output growing by approximately thirteen percent due to increased compression, larger intake valves and carburetors, and a boost in power by approximately thirteen percent.

The Bentley S1 was replaced by the S2 in 1959 and it would remain in production through 1962 with 2,308 units built. The S2 came equipped with a V8 engine, power steering, and an improved air conditioning system. Wheelbase sizes continued to measure 123- and 127-inches and a high-performance S2-derived Continental edition was also available.

by Dan Vaughan

Sports Saloon by Hooper
Chassis number: B460-AN
Engine number: BA 230

In the post-World War II era, a new type of marketplace for the elite in society began to evolve; one that had owner, rather than chauffeur, driving the car. A new type of Bentley was needed.

In 1946, Bentley introduced the Mark VI which was the first Bentley offered with a standard factory steel body. The Great Depression of the 1930s had depleted the number of independent coachbuilders, so the traditional method for clothing chassis's in the pre-WWWII era, was becoming obsolete. The following year, Rolls-Royce introduced their companion car, the Silver Dawn.

There was still a market for custom coachwork, and Bentley made their Mark Vi available as a rolling chassis on which the buyer could commission their own body.

In 1952, Bentley introduced the R-Type which featured a larger 4.5-liter engine and the first automatic transmission. The S-Series followed in 1955 and by this point, the standard steel sedan was nearly identical to the Rolls-Royce counterpart. A few differences existed, such as the grille and badge.

A total of 145 S1 Bentley's were clothed in custom coachwork. The remainders were standard sedans. One of the custom builders was Hooper & Company, based in London and had a history that dated back to 1805. Their existence would continue until 1960 when they ceased production and became a Rolls-Royce distributor.

This 1956 Bentley S1 Sports Saloon has Hooper coachwork. It is an aluminum body with is over 80 lbs. lighter than the standard steel sedan. This car features cutaway 'spats' over the rear wheels and a large, open interior with many windows offering a plethora of light to flow through. The interior is leather with eucalyptus wood trim, door sills, map tray, and rear writing tables.

This car was built for Lady Janet White of Felixstowe, UK and imported to the US in 1970 by Robert and Rita Irwin. The Irwin's retained the car for nearly four decades, before selling to the current owner. The car is completely original and has been driven 86,000 miles since new.

This is one of only four Bentley S1 automobiles with this type of coachwork. In 2007, it was brought to the Gooding & Company Auction held in Pebble Beach, California where it was estimated to sell for $75,000-$100,000. It was offered without reserve, which worked well for the buyer, who purchased the car for $46,200, including buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

Continental Cabriolet
Chassis number: BC25BG

The Bentley S Type or S1, as it was more commonly known, was produced from 1955 through 1959, during which time 432 examples were Continentals that featured the 4,887cc engine with the six-port cylinder head and other performance enhancements. Bentley claimed that the S1 Continental was the 'fastest four-seater in the world,' and many examples were fitted with custom bodies by notable coachbuilders such as Park Ward and H.J. Mulliner. This S1 Continental is unique in having been bodied by the Swiss firm of Graber for the 1956 Geneva Motor Show. After many years, its current owner has recently carried out its restoration, and the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance was the car's first showing anywhere in the world.

This was the only Bentley S1 Continental Convertible bodied by an independent coachbuilder rather than the Park Ward Division of Rolls-Royce. This one-off Graber-bodied example does bear some resemblance to that firm's efforts on two standard S-1 chassis and one Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud, but is unique unto itself, perhaps because it was intended for the Geneva Auto Show. It remained in Europe for some time, unfortunately becoming quite corroded during that period. It was brought to the United States and was disassembled for restoration with many parts damaged or lost while it remained in that state for many years. It was finally brought to its present state for the current owner.

This car was the subject of some very trying litigation from 1998 to 2012, which resulted in the chassis, bare body shell and engine remaining in the possession of a secured party as collateral for a debt, with the body components, interior and chrome trim parts evidently nonexistent. Fortunately, the missing components were found in 2012, enabling the restoration of this straight, undamaged, albeit weary thoroughbred to be correctly carried out.

Sports Saloon by Mulliner
Chassis number: BC36LAF

The second of only 24 left-hand drive examples built between 1955 and 1959, this Bentley S1 Continental Mulliner Fastback Coupe was restored in 1971 by Steve Morton. He then drove it from Cincinnati to the Rolls-Royce Owners Club meeting in Newport, Rhode Island, where it won the Rolls-Royce Trophy for Best of Show, Postwar - the first Bentley to ever win this unique award. The next year, at the RROC meet in Indianapolis, the car won the Mulliner Trophy. It was later shown twice at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, where it was named Second in Class in 1975 and 1976.

Drophead Coupe by Park Ward & Co.
Chassis number: BC26LBG

From 1950 until 1959, all Bentley models featured the 6-cylinder engine, which was constantly upgraded and developed by the factory from its initial 4.5-liters to nearly 5 litres beginning in 1954. The later V8 engine, introduced in 1959, was stronger and more powerful but not quite as refined as the V6. Over 20 different styles from various coachwork companies were built for the series, and the S1 Continental Park Ward Drophead Coupe is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful. It was first seen at the end of 1955 and this example is one of just 31 left-hand-drive cars built between 1955 and 1959. The car is equipped with factory power steering and a power-operated Everflex hood and was fully restored in 1984. The current owner acquired the car in 2016, and the 2019 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance was the first time it had been seen since its second restoration, done in England earlier in 2019.

This early example has been equipped with the upgraded large valve, large carburetor cylinder head as found on the later versions, power steering and air conditioning.

by Bentley

Drophead Coupe by Mulliner

This vehicle is a 1956 Bentley S1 Drophead Coupe with coachwork by H.J. Mulliner. It is finished in black with a red leather interior. It was on display at the 2006 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe by Park Ward & Co.
Chassis number: BC16LAF
Engine number: BC15A

1956 Bentley S1 Continental Park Ward Coupe is the Ex Jack Warner Car and is one of the very early S1 Continentals built. The S1 had the six cylinder engine which was well proven and reliable. Coupled with styling and many interior amenities, this is a desirable automobile.

This car was offered for sale at the 2007 Blackhawk Collection held at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance where it carried a price tag of $350,000. It is one of 33 built.

by Dan Vaughan

Drophead Coupe by Park Ward & Co.
Chassis number: BC22LBG

Park Ward built this design on only 31 left-hand-drive S1 Continental chassis. This style was not an 'adaptation' from the factory design stampings, but rather a fully custom body, built from the ground-up by Park Ward, handcrafted in aluminum.

This example was ordered by Edwin Jay Gould. He specified the car with sealed-beam headlamp, special fender lights, Windtone horns, and a speedometer in miles-per-hour.

This Park Ward Convertible has only 49,997 miles on the odometer with 9,204 of those miles travelled since being refurbished in 1993. Restoration was accomplished by Vantage Motorworks of Miami. The car is finished in period colors of Gunmetal grey over Mason's black with Connolly hides piped black to match the English mohair roof. It left the factory with air-conditioning and was sold to Edwin Jay Gould. The current owner is only the second registered owner.

The car is fitted with original keys with their engraved codes accompany its interesting ownership documentation. The Park Ward Convertible sold for $18,605.

Drophead Coupe by Mulliner

The Bentley S-Type or S1, as it is more commonly known, was produced from 1955 until 1959 and featured a 4887cc engine with six-port cylinder head and other performance enhancements. Bentley claimed that the S1 Continental was the fastest four-seater in the world, and many examples were fitted with custom bodies by notable coachbuilders.

This is the second of five left-hand drive aluminum-bodied coachbuilt examples. It was delivered in June of 1956 to Madame Rita Essayan of Paris. Mme. Essayan was the sister of Nubar Gulbenkian, one of the wealthiest people in the world at the time, and she wanted her car to have the finest modern details, including power steering, power-operated roof and H.J. Mulliner-designed push-button operated window lifts. This S1 Drophead Coupe was also once owned by the King of Morocco. The current owner acquired it in 2013.

Drophead Coupe by Park Ward & Co.
Chassis number: BC54LAF
Engine number: BC53A

This Bentley Drophead Coupe wears coachwork by Park Ward. Many of the Bentley convertibles in this era were 'adaptations' however, this example has a fully custom body built from the ground up by Park Ward's craftsmen.

There were 31 factory left-hand-drive chassis bodied by Park Ward as a drophead coupe. This example is one of those 31 examples; it has sealed-beam headlamps, whitewall tires, Windtone horns, and a speedometer in miles per hour. It has smooth body lines, long fully 'flow-through' fenders, and tiny tailfins. The car was originally delivered to Thomas D. Neelands Jr. by New York dealer J.S. Inskip on May 11, 1956. The car remained with Mr. Neelands until 1971, when it was acquired by William S. Payson, of Southport, Connecticut. Before the end of the year, ownership again changed, this time to Leon Levine, of Schenectady, New York, before joining the care of its present owner in 1988. The current caretaker has treated the car to a cosmetic restoration. It was finished in the color combination of Scarlet and Claret, with a beige leather interior.

by Dan Vaughan

Drophead Coupe by Park Ward & Co.
Chassis number: BC 23 LAF
Engine number: BC 22 A

This S1 Continental Drophead Coupe with coachwork by Park Ward is one of only 31 original left-hand drive US delivery cars. It was delivered by New York City's Inskip Motors to Mr. R. L. Parish. It came equipped from the factory with a radio, sun visors, sealed beam headlights, speedometer calibrated in miles per hour, and whitewall tires.

In 1960 the car was sold to J.F. Anderson of Houston Texas. Rosa Eggleston from Memphis, Tennessee became the cars next owner in 1965 and sold it to the current owner in 1991. Up to this point in history, the car had been driven 39,000 miles. A three-year restoration was commissioned which removed the original green paint using walnut-shell stripping process. The entire vehicle was completely overhauled with most of the mechanical elements being refurbished, rebuilt, and/or restored. The interior was reupholstered.

After the restoration, the car was put on the concours trail where it won two Best in Shows and 14 Best in Class awards. The most recent was in 2005. In 1996 it was invited to the Rolls-Royce's manufacturer exhibit at the Pebble Beach Concours. In 2005 it was in the heritage display at the Los Angeles Auto Show and 2006 New York International Auto Show.

Currently, the car has nearly 45,000 miles on the odometer. In 2007 it was brought to the Gooding & Company auction held in Pebble Beach, California and estimated to sell for $550,000-$650,000. Those estimates proved accurate, as the lot was sold for $577,500 including buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe by Park Ward & Co.
Chassis number: BC8BG
Engine number: BC8B

This Bentley S1 Continental Two-Door Saloon is one of 69 examples wearing coachwork by Park Ward. The car was delivered on July 31st of 1956 to its first owner, D. Mackinnon Esq. of England. It came optioned with one-piece taillights and subtle fins atop the rear wings.

The current owner acquired this Bentley in 1985 from a San Francisco resident.

The car has green Connolly leather, a Black exterior finish, and polished walnut veneer wood trim. The 4,887cc F-head inline 6-cylinder engine is fitted with Twin SU HD6 carburetors and offers and estimated 178 horsepower. There is a four-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel power-assisted drum brakes with mechanical servo.

by Dan Vaughan

Continental Sports Saloon by Park Ward & Co.
Chassis number: BC20LBG

Bentley introduced its S1 Continental in 1955 and was the last of the company's six-cylinder engines. It rode on a rigid welded box-section chassis with a new front suspension that had a semi-trailing wishbone and repositioned rear springs. A switch on the steering column allowed the electrically controlled rear suspension to be changed to 'normal' or 'hard.'

Bentley/Rolls-Royce in-house coachbuilders, Park Ward debuted a new, 2+2 sports saloon body upon the S1 Continental chassis in 1956 at the Earls Court Motor Show. The aluminum coachwork, design number 648, had a similar appearance to the previous R-Type Coupe with a gently raked windshield, a long bonnet, flared 'hips,' and gently-pinched fins. The interior featured a pair of full-size rear seats. It is believed that between 39 and 45 examples of the S1 Continental were fitted with this catalogued body style.

The New York-area Bentley distributor J.S. Inskip ordered this S1 Continental, chassis BC20LBG, on January 16th of 1956. Additional modifications requested included scuttle aerial, whitewall tires, and amber lights for the taillights. It was delivered new to its first owner, Fred Graupner of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on June 27th of 1956, and was subsequently acquired by car dealer Ed Jurist of Nyack, New York. It passed through subsequent owners in Maryland and New Jersey prior to its acquisition by the current caretaker in 1971.

Forty-four B-series S1 Continentals were produced in 1956 and this example is the sixth of 14 that were configured for left-hand drive markets.

This example is finished in a polychrome exterior with Black and Garnet detailing which continues to the color-matched wheel covers. It is believed that the current beige leather upholstery and Wilton carpeting were fitted in 2007.

This Bentley was given a mechanical sorting in the summer of 2020.

by Dan Vaughan

Continental Drophead Coupe by Park Ward & Co.
Chassis number: BC33BG

This Bentley Continental Drophead Coupe is one of 58 right-hand-drive cars built out of a total production of 89. One of the fastest and most expensive luxury four-seater European grand tourers of its time, the S1 Continental featured the last of Bentley's 6-cylinder engines, an original Rolls-Royce design, with a top speed over 120 mph. Benefitting from a super-rigid chassis with upgraded suspension (electronically controlled in the rear) and improved braking, the Continental offered a smooth, disciplined ride.

Originally owned by Sir Alfred James McAlpine, one of the founders of a prestigious civil engineering company in England, this car was bought by Peter Wilkie of Australia, in 1979, father of the current owner. Fresh from its three-year restoration by P&A Wood, England, the Continental appears as it did in 1956.

Lightweight Saloon by Mulliner
Chassis number: B42BA

Not satisfied with the standard steel saloon offered by Rolls-Royce and Bentley on the S1 chassis, the customer for this car opted instead for the very rare lightweight aluminum saloon style 7401 by H.J. Mulliner, at a considerable price premium over the standard Rolls-Royce/Bentley offering. The unique coachwork of this four-door model facilitated easy access to the rear seats with rear-hinged back doors offering seating for four with a separation. The Model 7401 shares the same elegant and distinctive wing-line of Mulliner's famous four-door S1 Continental Flying Spur, and was among H.J. Mulliner's final offerings, before being purchased by Rolls-Royce to form their new in-house coachbuilder Mulliner Park Ward. Following a seven-year restoration, this car was acquired by the current owner in 2008.

Coupe by Park Ward & Co.
Chassis number: BC31LAF
Engine number: BC30A

This 1956 Bentley S1 Continental Two-Door Saloon wears coachwork by Park Ward Ltd. with a two-tone paint scheme described as 'Dual Gray' with the interior upholstered in red leather. It was delivered through J.S. Inskip of New York to its original owner, Edwin H. Herzog of New York. It would have several New York owners including Leonard Potter and Sydney Rogers, before Priscilla Lucas Stevens acquired it in 1966 and retained it until the mid-1990s. While in her care, the car was repainted and reupholstered in its original colors in 1976.

In 2017, the car was purchased by Arnold Penner, who kept it until 2023.

This Bentley wears a two-tone gray combination with red upholstery and carpets, and a walnut dashboard. There is a Blaupunkt AM/FM radio, air conditioning, an automatic gearbox, and power steering. The 4,887cc F-Head inline 6-cylinder engine has twin SU HD6 carburetors and produces an estimated 178 horsepower. There is a four-speed automatic gearbox and four-wheel power-assisted drum brakes with mechanical servo.

by Dan Vaughan

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 1930's, Rolls-Royce and Bentley were serious competitors. Both firms offered their unique interpretations on the English gentleman's car theme. Walter Owen Bentley was a better car builder than businessman, though, and his company was facing serious financial hardships by the early 1930's.

Rolls-Royce Ltd. bought the troubled Bentley facilities in 1931. The first Roll-Royce-produced Bentley, the 3½ Litre, debuted for 1933. From this point until Volkswagen's purchase of the works in 1998, Bentley produced near twins of Rolls-Royce cars, with an occasional special vehicle of its own. Bentley and Rolls produced some of the finest four-wheeled machines in the world during their partnership, but the Bentley brand retained little identity of its own. Bentleys were essentially badge-engineered cars. They were the slightly sportier counterparts of contemporary Rollers.

Proof of this can be found throughout the histories of the two companies, but the Bentley S1 is a great place to start. Produced from 1955 through 1959, the S1 was mechanically and visually (in standard coachwork, at least) identical to the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I in most ways. We've all seen Silver Clouds patiently waiting outside churches on wedding days, clad in white with dignified grilles gleaming. The Bentley, though, was a stronger seller despite its relative lack of fame.

A total of 3,538 Bentley S1's were produced. Of these, 3,072 were of the standard S1 variety on standard chassis. There were 35 made with long-wheelbase chassis. The remaining 431 were S1 Continentals.

The ancient F-series engine, a straight six design, powered the S1 and displaced 4,887cc. It had an iron block with an alloy head. Twin SU carburetors were employed in good British taste, and an automatic transmission was standard fare with an available 4-speed manual offered upon request.

The most impressive S1, in terms of both presence and performance, was the Continental. Rolls-Royce and Bentley were not in the habit of announcing such pedestrian numbers as horsepower ratings during S1 production, so it's unknown how much more power the Continental had over the standard S1. Other improvements were obvious, though, and the Continental's intentions were made clear regardless of its hazy power output figures.

Braking, steering, and suspension systems were all reworked to give Continentals a more controllable feel. They were not available with standard coachwork. The H.J. Mulliner Fastback Saloon body seen on many S1 Continentals resembles that of the supremely expensive R Continental which preceded it. An imposing and handsome design, a mammoth grille of the traditionally curved Bentley style stood upright at the nose of the vehicle. A long hood bridged the expansive gap between the radiator grille's top and the rakish windshield's bottom, and from there all body lines flowed downward and back in a sweeping motion to create an impression of speed even at standstill.

The S1 with standard coachwork was, as stated, a Silver Cloud I twin with a revised grille and new badging. It took the Continental version of the S1 to provide Bentley with a unique car that was in the honest spirit of the maker.

If you walk into a Bentley dealer today, you will notice, amongst other cars, a wonderfully styled fastback named Continental. It has a unique design and an engine with astounding grunt. It was designed to go, stop, and handle with aplomb, and bears no resemblance to any modern Rolls-Royce. So the next time you mistake a standard S1 for a Silver Cloud, ask yourself just how much of Bentley's innate identity was lost to Volkswagen.

Sources:

Kinney, Dave. 'Bentley S1 Continental.' Sports Car Market Apr 2005 21 Mar 2009 http://www.sportscarmarket.com/Profiles/2005/April/English/.

'Bentley S1 and Bentley S1 Continental; Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I: Bentley 3 1/2 Litre.' Rolls Royce and Bentley 21 Mar 2009 http://www.rrab.com/.

by Evan Acuña

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 S1's sat atop a long wheelbase. Some of the notable coachbuilders who outfitted the S1's were Park Ward and H.J. Mulliner.

The Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I and the Bentley S1 were nearly identical, except for different badging and radiators. Mechanically, they were identical. Under the hood was an F-head 4887 cc straight-six Crewe engine with cast-iron cylinder block and aluminum alloy cylinder heads. A dual SU carburetor type HD6 was used from 1955 through 1957. From 1957 through 1959, a dual SU carburetor type HD8 was used. A four-speed automatic gearbox was standard; however, a four-speed manual unit was available as optional equipment. Stopping power was provided by drum brakes. The vehicles were adorned in two-tone paintwork with the hood finished in the lower color.

Six months after the introduction of the S1, Bentley introduced the S1 Continental, a name that had also been used as early as 1952 on the R-Type sedan. The Continental versions featured a slightly tuned engine and other performance features. Bentley claimed the Continental as 'the fastest four-seater in the world'. The engines were modified by enlarging the bore which increased the displacement to 4.9 liters. With the standard automatic gearbox and the added weight of optional power steering and power windows, the increase in engine size was well received by Bentley customers. The steel-body was replaced with aluminum, thus reducing the overall weight of the vehicle.

by Dan Vaughan