Developed in the wake of WW2, the extraordinarily refined and graceful S-series of cars are a sort of bridge between Classic and Modern Era, Pre-VW Group Bentley, utilizing the firm’s last standard separate chassis, and quickly replacing a straight-six from the 1920’s with a thoroughly up-to-date aluminum V8.

That same L410 engine finally exited production in 2020, as quintessentially Bentley as the Flying B.

Arguably the most special of an innately special group of vehicles, Bentley’s sportier, alloy-bodied, and strictly coachbuilt Continental variants are also the most collectible.

The auction car is one of just 40 James Young bodied S2 Continentals produced during a four-year period and is only one of 2 to be fitted with left hand drive.

For context, nearly 2,000 standard, steel bodied S2’s were produced during the same time frame.

This example was displayed at the 1961 Geneva International Motor Show, and later exported to the US.

Reportedly benefitting from a decade-old high...