At the London Motor Show in 1959, Rolls-Royce Bentley Motors introduced their all-new 6.2-litre V8 engine with the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II and Bentley S2 models.

A classic configuration of pushrod overhead valves, central camshaft and crossflow heads, the block and cylinder heads were alloy, and the fuel mixture was delivered through two horizontal SU HD6 carburettors.

A new development of the engine arrived in 1962 with the third generation S series, mounted on the Silver Cloud III and S3.

The headlight styling of S3 Continentals earned them the sobriquet of 'Chinese Eye' models, or ‘Chinese Lanterns’, as referred to by Sir Elton John, one of the most famous owners of the model.

Except for the adoption of quadruple headlights, it was difficult to differentiate at first glance between the S3 and previous models; however, there were numerous minor changes, one being a lower radiator shell resulting in a more pronounced shape in the bonnet line.

The improved engine of the S3 del...