1961 Bentley S2

We present a 1961 Bentley S2, one of the last cars to have been made by Bentley before switching to the S3. This left-hand-drive model looks to be in great shape, devoid of any major damage both inside and outside. It has a lowish 48,640 miles on the odometer, which comes as no surprise, given the overall condition. With the chassis code 'LLBB4', it's a long-wheelbase example — the longer 127-inch-wheelbase cars were produced from 1960 onwards.

The Bentley S-Series was made alongside the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud, and as years passed, there wasn't a huge lot to differentiate between the two marques. Although that didn't take away from the fact that these highly tasteful luxurious cars looked great, even in the Standard Steel versions supplied straight from the factory. Coachbuilt choices were available, too, and if you were in the market for a Bentley and didn't mind spending a little extra, there was always the Continental.

The 1961 S2 here is a long-wheelbase version of the Standard Steel saloon. In terms of its overall condition, there's not much detracting from how the car would've looked originally, with nearly everything in place. Quite an elegant-looking thing inherently, but what makes this S2 stand out a wee bit more is the pinstripe, which breaks the monotony in the large bodywork.

Of the two top-drawer British car marques, it was believed that Bentley was for the keen driver and Rolls-Royce more suited for the chauffeur-driven kind. There wasn't much to distinguish here, but the Bentley S2 was offered with luxury filled to the gills. Wood on the dashboard, high-quality leather for the upholstery? Check. Rear fold-out tables? Check. Some of the best chairs in the world? Check. What else would one need, apart from the ability to blast down their favorite road without a worry in the world!

This example has a lot going in its favor, especially with the interior, too. It's largely clean with only some visible marks on the door cards and the roof lining and some age-related wear on the seats. The condition otherwise, as one can see in the photos, is decent. The boot, although not the most cavernous, does look good, too.

While the V8 that went into the Bentley S2 (and the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II) was an incremental update over the already well-appreciated straight-six, no one would've imagined the kind of impact it'll have in the long run. The engine, albeit updated during its life, powered Bentleys for six decades. More than 36,000 of these were made until Bentley stopped its production three years ago.

There's no denying that this Bentley wasn't exactly meant to go racing, and given the added weight, it won't be the first performance-focused Bentley that comes to one's mind. But despite all that, a healthy V8 won't feel gutless. Even when stacked up against modern barges.

Bentley made the S2 from 1959 to 1962, just before the S3 was launched, which had the same engine (with a power upgrade) and new styling. With the chassis code LLBB4, it's clear that this example was produced in the 1961/62 batch and had a long wheelbase and left-hand drive. The odometer reads less than 50,000 miles.

There's not much to dislike about the Bentley S2 except for the fact that it's essentially a Silver Cloud II without much difference, especially if you get the Standard Steel body. But that doesn't take away the fact that it's a commendable car with ample luxury, performance and style to match. And with under 2,000 of these produced, it's going to be a decently rare car. Plus, did we mention it comes with a great engine?!