Bentley Continental refers to several models of cars produced by Bentley Motors. Originally, it referred to a special chassis for engines more powerful than the usual offering, supplied to a selected number of coachbuilders for the fitting of very light-weight coachwork designed under Rolls-Royce supervision.
The model name Continental had already been used by Rolls-Royce for models intended and geared for long-distance, high-speed touring on roads and of a style then only available in continental Europe. 1930s to 1950s advertising for even the Standard Steel Bentley saloons carried the slogan the Silent Sports Car. The Continental model was a lighter, faster, more nimble high-performance version, for high-speed travel in great comfort.[1]
The Continental name has since been re-used by Bentley for unrelated automobiles from 1984 onward.
1952 to 1965
Following the break brought about by the Second World War, Bentley resumed production of civilian automobiles, relocating its plant from Derby to Crewe. There, Bentley engineers produced R-Type Continentals for three years, from June 1952 to April 1955.[3] These cars were derivatives of the Standard Steel R-Type, the second series in Bentley's postwar luxury lineup.