Bentley Continental

The 'Embiricos' Bentley by Portout of Paris 1938
acknowledged inspiration for the Continental Bentleys

Bentley has used the Continental name on a number of automobiles since 1952.

From 1952 to 1965

Always for cars with more powerful engines than used in standard cars installed in lowered chassis provided to coachbuilders for distinctive and distinguished body shapes of specially lightened construction.

Bentley Continentals have usually been close-coupled two-door saloons intended for high speed touring and slightly less for comfort. They were named Continental, as with some Rolls-Royces before them, because until the 1960s there were no high speed roads of any length on their home territory.

From 1965

With the introduction of the T series with its unitary construction, Continental chassis were no longer made available to coachbuilders.

• 1952 Bentley Continental Mark VI
• 1952–1955 Bentley Continental R-type
• 1955–1959 Bentley Continental S1
• 1959–1962 Bentley Continental S2
• 1962–1965 Bentley Continental S3

post-coachbuilder cars

• 1984–1995 Bentley Continental
• 1991–2002 Bentley Continental R
• 1994–1995 Bentley Continental S
• 1996–2002 Bentley Continental T

post-Vickers cars

• 2003– Bentley Continental GT
• 2005– Bentley Continental Flying Spur
• 2006– GTC Bentley Continental GTC
• 2009– Bentley Continental Supersports

• Continental models from 1952 to present day
• 

  Bentley Continental 1952-1955
  body by H J Mulliner
• 

  Bentley Continental S1
  drophead coupé by Park Ward 1955
• 

  Bentley Continental S3
  Flying Spur by H J Mulliner 1962

• post-coachbuilder Continentals
• 

  1988 Bentley Continental
• 

  1998 Bentley Continental R
• 

  Bentley Continental GT

See also

• Bentley
• Bentley S3