Bentley S2
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox automobile
| image = 1961 Bentley S2 6.2.jpg
| name = Bentley S2
| caption = Standard saloon
| manufacturer = Bentley Motors Limited (1931)
| production = 1959–1962
2,308 produced
| body_style = 2-door saloon
4-door saloon
2-door drophead coupe
| predecessor = Bentley S1
| successor = Bentley S3
| related = Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II
| engine = 6.2 L Bentley L410 V8
| wheelbase = 3124 mm (123 in)
3226 mm (127 in)
}}
The Bentley S2 is a luxury car produced by Bentley from 1959 until 1962. The successor to the S1, it featured the new Rolls-Royce–Bentley L-series V8 engine and improved air conditioning made possible by that engine's increased output. Power steering was also standard, and a new dashboard and steering wheel were introduced. Some early S2s were built with the earlier S1 dashboard.
A high-performance S2-derived Continental edition was also produced.
1,863 standard and 57 long-wheelbase S2 car chassis were built{{cite web |url=https://www.dupontregistry.com/autos/listing/1960/bentley/s2/1860597 |title=Archived copy |website=www.dupontregistry.com |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406130326/https://www.dupontregistry.com/autos/listing/1960/bentley/s2/1860597 |archive-date=6 April 2019 |url-status=dead}} between 1959 and 1962. Almost all were fitted with standard factory bodywork. A number had coachbuilt bodies by Park Ward, Hooper, H. J. Mulliner & Co., and James Young.
S2
Announced at the beginning of October 1959Display Advertising The Times, Friday, 2 October 1959; pg. 5; Issue 54581; col D the S2 replaced the S1's straight-six engine with the new aluminium Rolls-Royce - Bentley L Series V8 shared with the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II. It displaced 6.2 L (6230 cc, or 380 cu in), and offered significantly improved performance.
As advertised in The Times, Friday, 2 October 1959:
{{Quotation|
The cylinder block and heads are cast in aluminum alloy and hydraulic tappets operate the overhead valves. The engine has a compression ratio of 8 to 1 and is fitted with twin carburetors with automatic choke.
Other features available include fully automatic transmission, power-assisted steering, electrically operated ride control, redesigned and more flexible air conditioning, electric rear window demisters and press button window lifts.}}
Of the 1,863 standard S2 models produced, 15 had H. J. Mulliner & Co. drophead coupe bodies. Of the 57 long-wheelbase cars, five had James Young bodies and one a Mercedes-Bentley yachting station-wagon body by Wendler.
S2 Continental
An "S2 Continental" chassis was built with higher performance engines and higher gearing for lighter bodywork. 388 were built, bodied by the same group of coachbuilders as the standard S2.
Gallery
File:Bentley S2 hb.jpg|Bentley S2
standard saloon
rear view
File:1962 Bentley S2 Mulliner Drophead Coupe.JPG|Bentley S2
drophead coupé
by H J Mulliner 1962
File:Bentley Continental S2 3157641144.jpg|Bentley Continental S2 2-door saloon by H J Mulliner
File:1962 Bentley S2 Continental.jpg|Bentley Continental S2 cabriolet
by Park Ward 1962
File:Bentley Continental S2 Flying Spur 4 door.JPG|Bentley Continental S2
4-door saloon
Flying Spur 1961
by H J Mulliner
File:1959 Bentley S Continental Flying Spur (H. J. Mulliner ) (18355719411).jpg|Bentley Continental S2
4-door saloon
Flying Spur 1959
by H J Mulliner
File:Bentley Continental S2 3157641220.jpg|Bentley Continental S2 interior
File:1960 Bentley S2 Shooting Brake by Wendler, front left.jpg|1960 Bentley S2 Shooting Brake by Wendler
References
{{Reflist}}
{{commons category|Bentley S2}}
{{Bentley ownership & road car timeline}}