Bentley Continental I photos

The classic Bentley Continental lineage originated in 1952 with the R-Type Continental, an aerodynamic lightweight fastback coupe engineered with H.J. Mulliner to cruise comfortably at over 100 mph across post-war Europe. The high-performance moniker continued across successive generations: the S1 Continental (1955–1959), S2 Continental (1959–1962), and S3 Continental (1962–1965). Built on heavy-duty cruciform-braced steel chassis with stiffer suspension setups and higher rear-axle gear ratios, these cars were bespoke creations. Early models used 4.6-litre and 4.9-litre straight-six engines, until the S2 Continental introduced the all-aluminium 6.2-litre Rolls-Royce/Bentley L-Series V8 mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. Bespoke aluminium body styles ranged from rakish two-door fastbacks and drophead coupes to the acclaimed four-door Flying Spur sports saloons, culminating in the slanted 'Chinese Eyes' dual-headlamp styling of the S3 Continental. Assembled exclusively by coachbuilders such as Mulliner and Park Ward, these ultra-luxury cars were sold in tiny volumes across Europe, North America, and the Middle East.