History Of Fast Cars: Issue 1 [Updated Weekly]

[CertifiedG]

Bentley R Continental
1952 United Kingdom


When it was launched in 1952, the Bentley R Continental was hailed as the fastest production four-seater car in the world. And, at that time, a top speed of 115mph was quite something, when most family saloons struggled to exceed 70mph.

Much of the Bentley's performance excellence was down to it's shape; it was desgined, with the aid of a windtunnel, to be aerodynamically efficient. Downforce was not a consideration in those days, so the car was shaped to slip through the air as smoothly as possible. This led to the distinctive long, flowing tail. The rear wings were finned to help high-speed stability, while on the first cars the back wheels were covered with spats for extra efficiency. The Continental was an elegant and stately car but, at the same time, one that looked fast, even when it was standing still.

Under the smooth and lightweight skin was a Rolls Royce R-Type chassis with independent front suspension with wishbones and coil springs, and a fixed rear axle with half-elliptic springs.

The engine was a inline, 4.6-litre, six-cylinder unit with twin SU carburettor. It was based on a Rolls Royce unit, but was given a higher compression ratio and a more efficient exhaust system. The power went through a manual four-speed gearbox to the rear wheels.

Priced at £6,929 ($13,764) in 1952, the Continental was a very expensive motorcar, but lucky buyers were treated to more than just high-speed performance. The interior was, as you'd expect of a Bentley, of the highest quality, with plenty of beautifully finished leather and walnut.

In 1954, buyers were given the option of a four-speed automatic transmission, while the engine capacity was increased to 4.9-litres. A year later, the car was lengthened slightly to accommodate a new chassis. In this form, the Continental remained in production until 1959. It was to be the last purpose-designed Bentley until the Continental R of 1991; this was then followed by the all-new Continental GT of 2003, which draws inspiration from this original Continental.

Specification
Capacity: 4566cc
Cylinders: Straight-six
Compression ratio: 7.25:1
Maximum power: 178 bhp at 4500rpm
Maximum torque: n/a
Gearbox: Manual, four-speed
Length: 5232mm
Width: 1778mm
Weight: 1882kg
0-60mph: 13.5 seconds
Maximum speed: 115mph

[CertifiedG]

Ignore the other thread