LOT 324
1960 Bentley S2 Saloon Registration no. OSU 399 Chassis no. B257CT
Sold for £24,150 inc. premium
Lot 324
1960 Bentley S2 Saloon
The December Sale Collector's Motor Cars, Motorcycles and Automobilia|7 December 2016, 16:00 GMT|London, Olympia
1960 Bentley S2 Saloon
Registration no. OSU 399
Chassis no. B257CT
Registration no. OSU 399
Chassis no. B257CT
*First of the V8-engined Bentleys
*Attractive colour/trim combination
*Recent considerable expenditure
*'Silky smooth and quiet to drive'
*Attractive colour/trim combination
*Recent considerable expenditure
*'Silky smooth and quiet to drive'
Footnotes
'The Bentley S2, with its sister Rolls-Royce models, gives high-speed travel in silence and luxury, while the driver and passengers enjoy the sense of well being that only the best British craftsmanship can give.'- John Bolster, Autosport.
Facing increasing competition from faster rivals and with development of its ageing six-cylinder engine nearing its end, Rolls-Royce turned to V8 power as the 1960s approached. The V8 was, of course, the predominant power unit in Rolls-Royce's most important export market - the USA - so it was only natural that the Crewe firm would study the best American designs - principally those of Chrysler and Cadillac - for inspiration. Introduced in the autumn of 1959 as the star of the London Motor Show, the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II and Bentley S2 appeared externally unchanged from their 'Cloud and S-Type predecessors, though the duo's performance was considerably enhanced by the new 6,230cc V8 engine. Of all aluminium construction, this remarkable new power unit was some 30lb lighter than the preceding 'six', despite its greatly increased capacity. In keeping with tradition, no peak power output was quoted, though most informed sources estimated it to be around 200bhp.
Although wider and shorter than the 'six' it replaced, the new V8 fitted relatively easily within the engine bay, relocation of the steering box from inside to outside of the chassis frame being the most obvious alteration to the previous arrangements. Externally the new models appeared virtually unchanged, while beneath the skin Rolls-Royce's own four-speed automatic transmission was now the only one on offer, and power steering had been standardised. Immensely successful both at home and abroad, the Silver Cloud II and Bentley S2 remained in production until the autumn of 1962, by which time 1,865 S2s had been built with the factory's 'standard steel' body compared with 2,417 Silver Cloud IIs.
This particular Bentley S2 is finished in arguably the best colour/trim combination, complemented with period-style white wall tyres, An exceptionally sound example, 'OSU 339' has benefited from considerable expenditure over recent years and comes with supporting documentation. Described by the vendor as being silky smooth and quiet to drive, the car is offered with MoT to November 2017 and a V5C document.
Saleroom notices
Please be advised that upon the cars arrival at the Saleroom, we have discovered that the engine mounts will need replacing.
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