Status report on various experimental cars and ongoing tests as of January 1st.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 123\4\ scan0384 | |
| Date | 3rd January 1939 | |
| 1042 To Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from Rm {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} /FD. {Frank Dodd - Bodies} c. to HPS {Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr} /CEP. Rm {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} /FD. {Frank Dodd - Bodies} 5/JH.3.1.39. Cars in the Experimental Garage Jan. 1st. Phantom III. 35.EX. Tests with restricted gear lever movement and assisted clutch. Overdrive gearbox tests continued. Experience on difference makes of cylinder liners. Bentley 4 1/4 litre 11 Series. 3.B.4. Fitted with 10 x 43 axle gears and small wheels 6.50 x 17 stiffened axle shafts, overdrive gearbox, new camshaft EB.3240 long toes as P.III rockers with w/m bores. Die cast A.C. 6 main bearings. Delco Remy ignition special valve springs Rm. {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} 260 Swedish wire. Cooling by thermostat and fixed shutters. Car used for skid pan tyre tests, also for mudguard tests minus running boards. Car to be disposed of. 6.B.4. Used for obtaining further experience with overdrive gearbox 10 x 43 axle gears small wheels, M series Bentley. Cooling by thermostat and fixed shutters. B.56.BN. {W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} This car has been used for obtaining experience with hydraulic front brakes for B.50, is now back to standard and will shortly be disposed of. Bentley III. 7.B.5. } 8.B.5. } 9.B.5. } 7.B.5. and 9.B.5. are under general development, both complete cars. 8.B.5. is now on second 15,000 miles trials in France. Bentley 50. 1.B.50. Complete car, general development of chassis. 2.B.50. Chassis at Park Wards having body fitted, should be complete car by end of first week in January. Cont'd | ||
From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).