Vehicle Description
This 1961 Bentley S2 Saloon is a beautifully restored, luxury
British import that is loaded with options and exudes elegance!
Based upon Bentley's own advertising materials, its cars were
intended to attract "a distinctly different type of driver" from
its sister company Rolls Royce. With history dating back to the
early 1900s, Bentley Motors was founded in 1919 by Walter Owen
"W.O." Bentley, a former engineer with a passion for building fast,
durable cars capable of competing with the world's best. Born from
a vision to create "a fast car, a good car, the best in its class,"
the first Bentleys quickly gained a reputation for their
engineering excellence and racing prowess. However, despite its
success on the track, Bentley struggled financially during the
Great Depression. In 1931, the company was forced into liquidation
and was acquired by Rolls-Royce Ltd., who sought to eliminate a
competitor and repurpose Bentley as a luxury performance marque.
Under Rolls-Royce ownership, Bentley cars gradually shifted from
the raw, racing-oriented character of the W.O. era to more refined,
coachbuilt grand tourers. After the merger, Rolls-Royce's influence
was apparent in the Bentley marque with the resulting cars
resembling Rolls-Royce in terms of luxury and comfort but also,
Bentley was seen as having a bit more performance and keeping
somewhat with its early racing-inspired roots. By the end of the
1950s and into the early 1960s, Bentley's distinctiveness had
further blurred with Rolls-Royce, as models began sharing shared
chassis and bodywork with their Rolls counterparts. Still,
Bentley's reputation for understated performance and refined
engineering endured, laying the groundwork for its future revival.
Making its debut in the fall of 1959, the Bentley S2 series saw a
major step up in performance in large part thanks to the addition
of a cast-aluminum V8 that was seen as a great improvement over the
previous generation's inline 6 engines. The S2 looked like
Rolls-Royce but with the added V8 drove much more akin to a British
sports car than say a grand tourer that Rolls is famous for. These
cars were also particularly luxurious, equipped with automatic
transmissions as well as power steering, something not seen in
virtually every American-built car in the era. In total, it is
believed that only 1,865 S2 models were produced from 1959 through
1962, which makes this particular S2 Saloon quite a rare piece.
Further adding to its rarity is the fact that it is also a
left-hand drive model, meaning it was built to be driven on
American (as opposed to UK) roadways. This particular Bentley S2
comes to us from an east coast collection where it spent nearly the
past 25 years being cared for and stewarded. Powering this '61
Bentley is a cast aluminum 6.2 Liter V8 engine fed by a pair of SU
single-barrel carburetors that together were estimated to have
produced 220 horsepower when new. The 6.2L Bentley V8 is mated to a
4 speed Automatic Transmission that makes for a comfortable and
enjoyable car to drive. Exhaust exits this Bentley's cast aluminum
power plant via a single exhaust setup that makes for nearly silent
operation. Since this 1961 Series II Bentley is once of the most
luxurious automobiles of the era, it should be no surprise that it
comes loaded with creature comforts! With power steering,
maneuvering this nearly 4,500 pound cruiser in and out of a tight
parking space at the local car show or ice cream parlor is almost
effortless, easily accomplished while holding your ice cream cone
in one hand and turning the steering wheel with the other. You'll
be able to say cool even on the hottest summer days since this
Bentley S2 Saloon comes equipped with Air Conditioning as well!
Riding on a set of upgraded radial tires mounted on painted steel
wheels that are accented with gorgeous full wheel covers, this 1961
Bentley has a great look and even better ride. The gorgeous
European body of this Bentley has been refinished in beautiful
Oxford Dark Blue paint that completes the elegant exterior look of
this wonderful British luxury car. The lush interior in this 1961
Bentley S2 Saloon is particularly luxurious! The front and rear
seats are equipped with beautiful Robin Blue leather and make for
an extremely comfortable ride for both the driver and the
passengers in this classic Bentley. The matching Robin blue
carpeting, armrests, and door panels are in wonderful shape as
well. The wooden accents throughout the interior of this '61
Bentley Saloon further add to the upscale look and feel inside this
luxurious car, and can be found capping each door panel, integrated
into the dash, as well as on the front seat backs and rear tray
tables. Additionally, all 4 power windows go up and down with ease
all with the flick of a switch. While driving this Bentley, you'll
have all of the relevant information at your fingertips with a full
array of Smith instrumentation including a 120 MPH speedometer, amp
gauge, temperature gauge, oil pressure gauge, and fuel gauge. The
burl grained dash is finished off with a locking glovebox, Smith
clock, push-button AM radio, along with various other controls.
Whether you're adding to an existing British collection or you're
buying your very first classic car, this 1961 Bentley S2 Saloon
would make an excellent choice. Give Ellingson's a call today at
763-428-7337!
*6.2L Cast Aluminum V8
*Dual 1-Barrel SU Carburetors
*4 Speed Automatic Transmission
*220 Horsepower
*Power Steering
*Air Conditioning
*1 of 1,865 Produced from '59-'62
*Refinished in Oxford Dark Blue
*Robin Blue Leather Interior
*Power Windows
*Stock Instrumentation
*Odometer Reads: 83,436 Miles
