Bentley Continental

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Bentley Continental
1956 convertible by Park Ward
Overview
Manufacturer	Bentley Motors
Production	1952–1965 1984–2002
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door coupé 2-door convertible 4-door sedan Flying Spur
Layout	FR layout

Bentley Continental refers to several models of cars produced by Bentley Motors. Originally it referred to a special chassis for engines more powerful than the usual offering, supplied to a selected number of coachbuilders for the fitting of very light weight coachwork designed under Rolls-Royce supervision.^{[citation needed]}

The model name Continental had already been used by Rolls-Royce for models intended and geared for long-distance high speed touring on roads and of a style then only available in continental Europe. 1930s to 1950s advertising for even the Standard Steel Bentley saloons carried the slogan the Silent Sports Car.^{[citation needed]} Their Continental was a lighter, faster, more nimble high performance version, for high-speed travel in great comfort.^{[citation needed]}

The Continental name has since been re-used by Bentley on unrelated automobiles in 1984 and again in 2003.

From 1952 to 1965[]

The 'Embiricos' Bentley by Portout of Paris 1938, a prototype Bentley Continental^[1]

Grand Touring Cars. Following the break brought about by the Second World War Bentley resumed production of civilian automobiles relocating its plant from Derby to Crewe. There, Bentley engineers produced R-Type Continentals for three years, from June 1952 to April 1955.^[2] These cars were derivatives of the Standard Steel R-Type, the second series in Bentley's postwar luxury lineup.^{[citation needed]}

The R-Type Continental's chassis was specially built to fit an RTX 3090 incorporating special components, including a high performance engine, and fitted with a very special light weight bodies designed and built under the close supervision of Rolls-Royce. One of the world's most expensive automobiles,^[3] only about 208 R-Type Continentals were built in total.

After the R-Type Continental the Continental S1 (1955–1959), S2 (1959–1962), and S3 (1962–1965) were delivered beginning in March 1955. The first was well received and 49 were built.^[4][5] The S2 delivered from July 1959, debuted with a new L Series V-8 engine,^{[citation needed]}. It also incorporated previously optional amenities, air conditioning and power-steering. The S3, delivered from September 1962, was distinguishable principally by having four headlamps instead of two in the front wings.^[6]

In 2015 a 1952 R Type Continental, in unrestored condition, sold for over US$1 million.^[7]

The second generation of the Continental ended with deliveries in November 1965 after the September 1965 introduction of the unitary construction T Series.^[8]

Production timeline[]

Grand Touring cars:

• 1952–1955 Bentley R-Type Continental
• 1955–1959 Bentley S1 Continental
• 1959–1962 Bentley S2 Continental
• 1962–1965 Bentley S3 Continental

Production closed with the introduction of the unitary construction Bentley T-series.

• 

  1953 R-Type by H. J. Mulliner & Co.
• 

  1957 S1 by Park Ward
• 

  1962 S3 saloon, Mulliner's Flying Spur

1984 to 2002[]

The Continental nameplate was revived in 1984. The following cars with non-standard and distinctive bodywork were produced until 2002:

• 1984–1995 Bentley Continental
• 1991–2002 Bentley Continental R
• 1994–1995 Bentley Continental S
• 1996–2002 Bentley Continental T

• 

  1988 Continental
• 

  1998 Continental R
• 

  2000 Continental R

2003 to present[]

Bentley Continental
2013 Bentley Continental GT (II)
Overview
Manufacturer	Bentley Motors
Production	2003–present
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door coupé 2-door convertible
Layout	FR layout

Three versions of the Continental have been sold following Vickers' sale of Bentley to Volkswagen:

• 2003–present Bentley Continental GT
• 2006–2018 Bentley Continental GTC
• 2005–2013 Bentley Continental Flying Spur

The next-generation Bentley Continental is scheduled for 2018, and it will include a plug-in hybrid variant. Bentley will borrow the plug-in hybrid powertrain from the Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid.^[9]

Components for Bentley Continental will be sourced from Volkswagen's plants in Germany and Slovakia, with stampings from Volkswagen's factory in Bratislava. Porsche's plant in Leipzig will be responsible for assembling bodies-in-white, alongside Porsche's Panamera. Bentley's factory in Crewe will carry out final assembly.^[10]

• 

  2005 GT

References[]

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