Unveiled in Autumn 1955 some six months after its Bentley S1 Standard Steel Saloon sibling, the Continental version was only available to coach-built special order.

Featuring a higher compression ratio and taller back axle ratio, the newcomer was found capable of over 120mph.

Underpinned by the same cruciform-braced box-section chassis as the ‘basic’ S1, complete with independent front suspension, a well-located ‘live’ rear axle and servo-assisted four-wheel drum brakes, most of the coachbuilders that clothed it favoured aluminium over steel.

Lighter and nimbler than the standard factory offering, Continentals were typically some fifty per cent more expensive too.

Long considered among the best engines Bentley ever made, the S1’s 4.9 litre straight-six was famed for its blend of torque, refinement and durability and was thus well-suited to the standard fit four-speed automatic transmission.

Among the era's fastest and most exclusive four-seaters, the last of 431 S1 Continentals wa...