S3
The Bentley S3, produced from 1962 to 1965, is an iconic luxury saloon from the British marque Bentley. It stands out with its refined design, 6.2-liter V8 engine, and spacious interior. This page brings together the versions referenced by ScanRacer, including years, variants, rarities, and available detailed pages, linking the model overview to version-by-year pages.
Variants by year
1964
1963
1962
Model summary
Data from the ScanRacer library, organized to compare versions quickly.
Model introduction
The Bentley S3, produced from 1962 to 1965, is an iconic luxury saloon from the British marque Bentley. It stands out with its refined design, 6.2-liter V8 engine, and spacious interior. This page brings together the versions referenced by ScanRacer, including years, variants, rarities, and available detailed pages, linking the model overview to version-by-year pages.
History
The Bentley S3 was first introduced at the Paris Motor Show in October 1962. It succeeded the Bentley S2 and featured notable enhancements, including the adoption of four front headlights, a radiator lowered by 1.5 inches, and restyled front wings. The interior was redesigned with individual seats for front passengers and increased legroom in the rear. The 6.2-liter V8 engine's compression ratio was increased, providing improved performance without compromising fuel efficiency. Production of the S3 continued until 1965, when it was succeeded by the Bentley T1. (bentleymedia.com)
Generations
The Bentley S3 represents the third generation of the S series, succeeding the S2. This generation is distinguished by aesthetic and technical enhancements, including the introduction of four front headlights and a redesigned radiator grille. The interior was redesigned to offer better comfort, with individual front seats and increased space for rear passengers. The 6.2-liter V8 engine was optimized to provide better performance while maintaining reasonable fuel consumption. Production of this generation ended in 1965, with the launch of the Bentley T1. (bentleymedia.com)
Key differences
Compared to the S2, the Bentley S3 features several notable differences: - **Exterior design**: Introduction of four front headlights, radiator lowered by 1.5 inches, restyled front wings, and separate direction indicators. - **Interior**: Individual front seats and increased legroom in the rear. - **Engine**: Increased compression ratio of the 6.2-liter V8 engine, providing better performance without compromising fuel efficiency. These enhancements strengthened the luxurious and high-performance character of the S3 compared to its predecessor. (bentleymedia.com)
Photo recognition
To identify a Bentley S3, look for the distinctive four front headlights, the radiator lowered by 1.5 inches, and the restyled front wings. The interior features individual front seats and increased legroom for rear passengers. The 6.2-liter V8 engine is also a key indicator of this model. (bentleymedia.com)
Important versions
Among the important versions of the Bentley S3 are the standard short-wheelbase version, the long-wheelbase version, and the Continental Flying Spur, the latter being particularly sought after for its elegant design and enhanced performance. (bentleymedia.com)
References
- 1963 S3 – 176 FGHBentley Motors
- https://www.automobile-catalog.com/model/bentley/s3_bentley.htmlautomobile-catalog.com
- https://www.bentleymedia.com/en/colleague-event-s3bentleymedia.com
- https://www.bentleymedia.com/fr/heritage-collection/1963-s3-176fghbentleymedia.com
- https://classiccars.fandom.com/wiki/Bentley_S3classiccars.fandom.com
- https://www.supercars.net/blog/1963-bentley-s3/supercars.net
- https://www.autobild.de/marken-modelle/bentley/s3/autobild.de
Frequently asked questions
- What years was the Bentley S3 produced?
- ScanRacer's referenced versions cover 1962 - 1964.