This ultra-sharp 1961 Bentley Continental S2 you see right here is already one of many rarest automobiles on this planet – one in all solely 4 such automobiles constructed. This one, although, is even rarer than that. It’s really one in all a form, as a result of it’s absolutely electrical.
Restored and modified by the EV conversion specialists at Lunaz, this juiced-up luxurious coupe ditches the unique automobiles’ inner combustion engine, mechanical transmission, and fuel tank, changing it with a lithium-ion battery pack and beefy electrical motor that places out 530 lb-ft of torque and 405 all-electric horsepower, sufficient to propel the massive Bentley from 0 to 60 MPH in a bit over 6 seconds, in whole silence, and with “magic carpet experience” ranges of shift-free smoothness.
Managing all that energy is a bolstered, ladder-frame chassis. On the rear of the chassis, Lunaz’ crew put in a totally adjustable coil-spring suspension with a lever arm damper, in addition to four-piston brakes on the again and a six-piston brake caliper arrange clenching down on fashionable ferrous rotors up entrance.
And, whereas this specific automobile might be destined to stay a one-off, Lunaz can provide an analogous stage of design and execution competence in your different traditional Bentley or Rolls-Royce, as effectively, with a customized palette of inside and exterior paint, leather-based, and wooden trim decisions to fit your style. “The Lunaz shade palette represents a balanced spectrum of decisions, created with full consideration for the shape and spirit of the automobile,” reads the official copy. “We deliver stunning traces to life by a mix of leading edge pigment expertise and the curatorial eye of the designer … The outside palette is complemented by an in depth library of fabric therapies and colorways. A Lunaz inside doesn’t need to be laid out in conventional leather-based. Certainly, we’re proud to pioneer new approaches to inside luxurious design by unlocking the potential that every materials can provide.”
If that sounds costly, you’re be proper! I didn’t see any kind of pricing menu to spec out your individual electrical Bentley anyplace on the official Lunaz web site. However in fact, if you need to ask …
Story Time
1961 Bentley S2 Continental coupé EV; courtesy Lunaz.
Look, I’m a sucker for ultra-luxury automobiles that I’ll in all probability by no means be capable to afford– however I believe this specific Bentley has a narrative that’s objectively attention-grabbing, if solely as a result of the story of this completely distinctive car’s life is so extraordinary. Extraordinary within the context of “used automobiles,” that’s.
The story behind this ultra-rare Continental begins again in 1960, when the automobile’s unique proprietor positioned an ordered for a four-door Rolls-Royce Flying Spur with London coachbuilder, James Younger. That automobile was supposed to put the luxurious Rolls-Royce physique an inside on prime of the performance-oriented rolling chassis of a Bentley. For no matter cause(s), that automobile by no means materialized — however what the customer obtained, as an alternative, was this coupe. One among 4 such automobiles constructed by James Younger.
Regardless of its rarity, the hand constructed coupe bounced round a number of homeowners and throughout a number of continents earlier than coming “again residence” to the UK for its return to former glory — a truth the workforce at Lunaz is pleased with. “The Lunaz answer takes automobiles which can be beneath risk and offers them new function,” explains Jon Hilton, Lunaz’ Managing Director & Technical Lead. “Our automobiles embody the spirit of the unique. They’re peerless of their efficiency and easy of their day-to-day use. To breathe new life into these timeless masterpieces represents important engineering within the purest sense.”
Hats off to Lunaz, then. From the place I sit, they completely nailed it.
Supply | Pictures: Lunaz.
