One of the most fascinating parts of Rolls-Royce and Bentley history is the staggering numbers of custom bodies that were available, from the sublime to the…not-so-sublime. But we shouldn’t forget that the “Standard Steel” bodies found on the Silver Cloud and Bentley S-Series models were quite aristocratic in their own right. With a taut combination of crisp edges and voluptuous curves, the “standard” Rolls and Bentley somehow looked equal parts old-fashioned and up-to-date upon their introduction as 1955 models. The 1962 Bentley S2 had a few worthwhile upgrades, and you can enjoy this one for a $25,000 asking price. Barn Finds reader Mike F. found it on craigslist in Fort Garland, Colorado, and it certainly looks the part of Britain’s finest.
The main difference between the S1 and S2 Bentleys was the engine, the new 6.25-liter V8. With overhead valves, a gear-driven camshaft, cylinder head studs, and aluminum construction, the V8 was introduced for 1959, and although Rolls-Royce famously advertised that their engines’ horsepower was “sufficient” or “adequate,” The Motor magazine suggested that its torque rating was certainly higher than 325 lb.-ft. Backed by their version of GM’s Hydramatic, Bentley’s new V8 added seven miles per hour to the its top speed compared to the outgoing inline six, and cut its zero to 100 mile per hour time from 50.6 seconds to 38.5 seconds (according to The Autocar, testing Silver Clouds, which were identical to Bentley S1s and S2s). Our featured car has an alternator conversion and electric cooling fans for a little extra peace of mind in traffic.
The seller sadly neglected to include pictures of the interior aside from a few shots of the gauges, but they say the interior “is original and has some minor cracking in the leather.” The car itself has had a brake job within the last year, in addition to fluid changes and a tune up. It “runs and drives great.”
One downside, depending on your viewpoint of collector cars, is that this Bentley is a right-hand-drive model. While some may appreciate that tip of the cap to the motherland, others would appreciate the ability to see around the minivan they’re attempting to pass; whether or not being a “right-hooker” will hold down the value, I’m not sure. Another downside is that no matter how inexpensively you buy the car, Bentley parts are priced like Bentley parts, but at least you’d be putting money into a handsome S2 in an attractive color combination, and there are worse things to do with your life. In case this sweetens the deal, the seller is “open to reasonable offers and the price is negotiable.” If you have a fascination with body-on-frame Bentleys and Rolls-Royces, this looks like something that’s fancy enough to strike your fancy.
When someone says “Bentley”, this is the car that comes to my mind.
Alla Bruletova should do a video with one of these: “Bentley” taptaptap…
Rolls and Bentley had some absolutely beautiful designs, and this is most certainly one of them. The two tone really highlights the body on this one, and a really nice color combination too. Too bad we cant see the interior.
“Pardon me, but do you have any Grey Poupon?”
(beautiful car!)
Burkes Law? No, that was a 62 RR I believe. But I think Aaron’s line that there are worse things to do with your life sums this car up perfectly. Cool classic.
My dad used to say that the guys who bought the Bentleys were cooler than the guys who bought the Rollers, because they were basically the same car but one had the RR tinnef all over it, but the Benley owner didn’t need to flash a brand. I’d love this car…
In 1965 I was fourteen and my family had just moved to Beverly Hills, where there was a remarkable display of various Bentleys and Rolls of this vintage. The most memorable was a two tone Rolls with subtle shades of what I might call “Champagne” driven by Fred Astair who brought his mother to church on Easter Sunday.
“A Rolls Royce is just a flat chested Bentley”..
Biggest issue with this vehicle might be getting to Ft Garland and getting it out of there. LOTS of expense if you ship it.
No one would expect to see a Bentley, let alone an old one, in remote Fort Garland. This seems to be a good combination of the V8 engine with the single headlights. The seller has probably had very little interest, so show up with a briefcase full of cash and haggle to get the best deal. If you don’t much care for the flashy two-tone look, you could have the bottom half painted to match the top.
Rollscanardly. Rolls down one hill and can hardly get up the next!
OK .you fellow commenters, how many/if any of you have actually owned any Bentley or Rolls-Royce?
Hmmf, just as I thought.
I, uh however, have had over 300 pass through my hands over the past nearly 40 years.
An older Bentley/Rolls-Royce can be a marvelous thing to own and drive, but most of us who have had them swear by the six cylinder model for all sorts of reasons including reliability, ease of service and affordable parts.
RHD is a non-issue – they drive just like LHD and for those people who gasp out “Oh, I could never drive that!” my response is that you probably shouldn’t be driving LHD either then.
They have some quirks – the mechanical servo brakes are perhaps the biggest, but that’s just a learning curve thing.
There are some almost unquantifiable benefits – my arrival in a 60 year old Bentley once at a swanky Scottsdale party led to a Las Vegas weekend with a former Miss America pageant finalist and another Bentley led to my small role on a short lived television series. Through it all, it’s been great fun, I’m not sure I would have had the same experiences if I had collected Nash Ramblers or Peugeot mopeds!
Your mention of ‘RR version of the Hydramatic’ brings a memory of when RR first installed this durable trouble- free transmission, only to have slippage problems that G.M. had not experienced. It was found that Rolls had taken it upon themselves to ‘further polish up’ the clutch plates inside the transmissions. G.M. discovered this, and the problem was solved.
@Chris-Great anecdote! Very funny!