1961 Bentley S2 Continental Flying Spur Saloon

Coachwork by H J Mulliner

Footnotes

This magnificent Bentley S2 Continental features the elegant, H J Mulliner-designed, 'Flying Spur' four-door coachwork, and is one of 71 with right-hand drive out of a total of 125 completed in this style on the S2 chassis. 'BC18CZ' has benefited from extensive restoration, including - very unusually - an engine recently re-manufactured by Bentley Motors.

Eulogising about Bentley's new 'S'-series cars, introduced in April 1955, The Autocar wrote, 'the latest Bentley model offers a degree of safety, comfort and performance that is beyond the experience and perhaps even the imagination of the majority of the world's motorists.' Later, in October that same year, the Bentley Continental became available on the 'S' chassis, the model having been synonymous with effortless high speed cruising in the grand manner since its introduction in R-Type form in 1952.

Having relied exclusively on six-cylinder engines since civilian production resumed at the war's end, Rolls-Royce secured its long-term future by turning to V8 power as the 1960s approached. Introduced in the autumn of 1959, the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II and Bentley S2 appeared externally unchanged from their Silver Cloud and S-Type predecessors, though their performance was considerably enhanced by the new 6,230cc aluminium-alloy 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 transmission being the sole offering.

The S2 Continental chassis differed by virtue of its shorter radiator, four-leading-shoe front drum brakes and - up to chassis number 'BC99BY' - higher gearing. Independent coachbuilders continued to offer alternatives to the factory's 'standard steel' bodywork, perhaps the most stylish being those produced to cloth the Bentley Continental which was, of course, only ever available with bespoke coachwork.

Rolls-Royce had envisaged the Bentley Continental as exclusively a two-door car, but late in 1957 the decision was taken to sanction the production of a four-door variation by H J Mulliner. Introduced on the S1 Continental and known as the 'Flying Spur', this design was a collaborative effort by Rolls-Royce's in-house styling department and H J Mulliner, and bore a strong resemblance both to the two-door Continental and to existing coachbuilt four-door styles on Rolls-Royce and (non-Continental) Bentley chassis. To the Continental's existing qualities of pace and elegance, the Flying Spur added four-door practicality, a more spacious interior and a generously proportioned boot. The Flying Spur body style continued on the V8-engined S2 Continental, and was revised to incorporate the S3's four-headlamp front end following the latter's introduction in 1962.

One of the last of its type built by H J Mulliner, this Bentley S2 Continental Flying Spur was delivered new in the UK on 10th November 1961, and according to the copy chassis card on file was first owned by one W S Lawson, Esq of Langton Manor, Knaresborough. However, the copy of the original logbook shows that the Bentley was first registered to supplying dealer H R Owen and then (from December 1962) to Donkin Properties Ltd of London W1.

The current owner purchased the Continental from a Bentley Drivers' Club colleague in Australia where the car had recently been restored. 'BC18CZ' has been stripped to bare metal and then repainted in its original Circassian Blue; all metal brightwork has been re-chromed; the interior re-trimmed in high quality leather; the carpets and headlining renewed; all woodwork restored to 'as new' condition; all major mechanical elements overhauled; new tyres fitted all around; and a brand new engine installed.

In 2013 a handful of new (original type) V8 engines were made by Bentley Motors at the request of HM The Queen, one of which was acquired for this car and fitted. P & A Wood were involved in the project, carrying out the finishing works and providing the necessary engine warranty. This new engine carries the original engine number with the approval of Bentley Motors. Fewer than 2,500 miles have been covered since the new engine was fitted.

In addition to the costs of the renovation carried out in Australia, the vendor has spent around £100,000 with P & A Wood over the last three years getting the car just right (bills on file). P & A Wood also carried out a full service in May 2016, and the car has an MoT valid until May 2018.

The owner now lives in Jersey and spends most of the winter in the Caribbean, so the Continental is rarely used; indeed, it has covered only some 2,800 miles in the last three years. This rare car is genuinely in stunning condition and worthy of the closest inspection.