Letter from Briggs Cunningham to Bentley Motors regarding a potential part-exchange of his 3 1/2-litre Tourer for a new 4 1/4-litre 'Streamline' model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 89\3\ scan0026 | |
| Date | 27th July 1939 | |
| C O P Y. From: Briggs S. Cunningham, Royal Yacht, M.Y. Alice, Cowes. I.O.W. To: Bentley Motors (1931) Ltd., 16, Conduit Street, W.1. July 27th, 1939. Dear Sirs, Thank you for your letter of July 25th concerning the new 4 1/4-litre car. Yes, I have followed the reports of the "Streamline(Experimental Streamline Bentley B.23.A.E)" with much interest, and would like to have a run in your demonstrator if it will be in Cowes this next week. As a matter of fact, I brought my 3 1/2-litre Tourer over with me, as I hoped to dispose of it and get something of later design. Could you give me any idea of the allowance you would make on my old car toward a 4 1/4-litre model? I am looking for a four passenger Drop-Head in which the top disappears completely into the body shell and is covered over with metal. I have seen pictures of a car of this description, and I believe it is owned by a Mr. Bronson. It has won numerous coachwork awards and prizes. The rear wheels are also enclosed. Personally, I am not much interested in a Saloon body, as I like to drive with the top down. I would appreciate it if you could let me know if there are any of these body types available as used cars. I believe Mulliner built this particular body. I have left my Bentley in care of the Automobile Association in Southampton while I am at Cowes, as I have another car with me here on the Island which I think has many good features. If you wish to see and appraise the Bentley, it is at Andrews Garage, No.7 Gate, Southampton Docks. It is in excellent condition and I have only driven it some 5000 miles since it left England in 1936. It has a very high compression (8 1/2 : 1) head on, however, and must have 87 octave aviation fuel to give best results. Is Mr. C. J. {Mr Johnson W.M.} Carey-Wood still with you? Most sincerely BRIGGS CUNNINGHAM (Signed). | ||
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).