Bentley S2/S3 Continental
1959–1965 · Bentley S2/S3 Continental — Grand Tourer, V8, designed by John Blatchley.
The Story
The S-Continental carried the coachbuilt flame into the V8 age — and then, gracefully, put it out. From 1959 the S2 Continental swapped the old straight-six for the new 6.2 aluminium V8, making the coachbuilt cars faster and more refined than ever, while H.J. Mulliner, Park Ward and James Young clothed them in fastback coupés, dropheads and the four-door ‘Flying Spur’ saloons.
The S3 Continental of 1962 was the last of the line — the final truly coachbuilt Bentley, built for the kind of owner who, as one chronicler put it, ‘preferred to put their own foot down rather than ask the chauffeur.’ By the time it bowed out in 1965, independent British coachbuilding was effectively over: Mulliner and Park Ward had already merged in 1961.
The Numbers
Benchmarked against its class
Each dial ranks this car within its Grand Tourer class — fuller means higher, and the tick marks the class midpoint.
Signature Colors
The Designer
John Blatchley
John Polwhele Blatchley was Rolls-Royce/Bentley’s chief stylist from the late 1940s to 1969 — responsible for the standard-steel saloons, the celebrated R-Type Continental fastback (aerodynamics by Ivan Evernden) and, as his last design, the Silver Shadow/T-Series.
Studio Motors POV
The last truly coachbuilt Bentley, and the four-door that carried the Flying Spur name — a closing chapter of bespoke Crewe craftsmanship, and a blue-chip in Mulliner Flying Spur form.
The Engine
Rolls-Royce / Bentley L-Series 6¾ V8
Lineage
Where it sits in the bloodline
Market & Value
Values on cars like this move monthly. Our brokers price from real transactions.
What Reviewers Said About S2/S3 Continental
Worth Knowing About the S2/S3 Continental
3 Things You Didn’t Know
- 1. The S3 Continental (1962) was the last of the truly coachbuilt Bentleys — the end of the bespoke aluminium sporting saloon.
- 2. Its era coincided with the end of independent coachbuilding: in 1961 H.J. Mulliner merged with Park Ward to form Mulliner Park Ward.
- 3. Of 310 S3 Continentals, just 87 were the four-door H.J. Mulliner 'Flying Spur' — and only 69 of those right-hand drive.
5 Fast Facts
- 1. Coachbuilt Continental on the 6.2 L V8 (200+ hp); four-speed automatic only.
- 2. Bodies by H.J. Mulliner (Flying Spur four-doors), Park Ward and James Young.
- 3. The S3 Continental (1962–65) was the last coachbuilt Bentley.
- 4. 310 S3 Continentals sold by 1966; 87 four-door Flying Spurs.
- 5. The V8 made it faster and more refined than the six-cylinder S1 Continental.
Provenance
Owners & what to look for
Famous Owners
A coachbuilt, ultra-wealthy clientele; no single celebrity owner cleanly documented.
Studio Buyer’s Brief
The H.J. Mulliner ‘Flying Spur’ four-doors are the most collectible — especially the 69 right-hand-drive cars; matching numbers and coachwork provenance set value, with the best Flying Spurs reaching strong six-to-seven figures.
Full Specifications
- Make / Model
- Bentley S2/S3 Continental
- Class
- Grand Tourer
- Production years
- 1959–1965
- Units built
- S2 Continental ~388 + S3 Continental ~328 (coachbuilt)
- Variants
- S3 (1962–65, quad-headlamp facelift); Mulliner, Park Ward & James Young coupes, dropheads & Flying Spur saloons
- Engine layout
- Front
- Engine
- V8
- Engine family
- Rolls-Royce / Bentley L-Series 6¾ V8
- Displacement
- 6,230 cc (6.2 L)
- Power
- 200 hp
- Torque
- lb-ft
- 0–60 mph
- 10.5 s
- Top speed
- 115 mph
- Power-to-weight
- 100 hp/tonne · 22.1 lb/hp
- Transmission
- 4-speed automatic
- Drivetrain
- RWD · Petrol
- Curb weight
- 4410 lb
Questions
S2/S3 Continental FAQ
What ended the era of coachbuilt Bentleys?
The S3 Continental, produced from 1962 to 1965, was the last truly coachbuilt Bentley, ending a decades-long tradition of bespoke aluminium bodywork by H.J. Mulliner, Park Ward, and James Young. When it left production in 1965, independent British coachbuilding was effectively finished.
How many S2 and S3 Continentals were built?
Approximately 388 S2 Continentals were built between 1959 and 1962, followed by around 310-311 S3 Continentals between 1962 and 1965 (figures vary slightly by source). Of the S3s, just 87 were the four-door H.J. Mulliner Flying Spur variant, and only 69 of those were right-hand drive — per specialist/auction sources.
When did H.J. Mulliner and Park Ward merge?
H.J. Mulliner merged with Park Ward in 1961 to form Mulliner Park Ward, the combined coachbuilding arm of Rolls-Royce and Bentley — a year before S3 Continental production began. Mulliner Park Ward continued with later Silver Shadow / Corniche-era two-door bodies after the S3 era closed.
Can you lease an S2/S3 Continental?
Yes, specialty lenders structure collector-car leases regardless of model year.
How does the S2 Continental differ from the S1 Continental?
The S2 Continental of 1959 replaced the S1 Continental’s 4.9-litre straight-six with the new 6.2-litre aluminium V8, adding approximately 30 horsepower and substantially smoother power delivery. The S3 Continental of 1962 retained the V8 and added quad headlamps across the range.
The Bentley Lineup
Explore every Bentley
3 Litre ’216½ Litre / Speed Six ’264½ Litre ’27Blower 4½ Litre ’29
R-Type Continental ’52S1 Continental ’55S-Type Saloon (S1/S2/S3) ’55S2/S3 Continental ’59
Mulsanne (1980) ’80Turbo R ’85
Continental R ’91Azure ’95Arnage ’98
Continental GT (1st gen) ’03Continental Flying Spur ’05Azure (2nd gen) ’06Brooklands (Coupé) ’08
Mulsanne (2010) ’10Continental GT (2nd gen) ’11Flying Spur (2nd gen) ’13Bentayga ’15Continental GT (3rd gen) ’18Flying Spur (3rd gen) ’19
Buy, sell, source or lease this S2/S3 Continental.
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