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).
Difficulty of fitting an Autovac to a Bentley due to potential petrol starvation issues.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 89\4\ scan0106 | |
| Date | 24th June 1937 | |
| W/S. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. Hd.{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy} 261 Rmll/R.24.6.37. Commander R.A.C. Michell - B.65.FC. H19/RH.{R. Hollingworth}8.6.37. We regret, having agreed to answer this memo, we omitted to do so. The difficulty of fitting an Autovac to the Bentley is occasioned by the fact that the carburetters are relatively high in relation to the bonnet. An Autovac feeds the carburetters by gravity. If the Autovac were placed in the highest possible position under the Bentley bonnet, there would be only two or three inches gravity head for the carburetters. On an Alpine Pass, this head would be reduced owing to the gradient. Tests indicate that the results would be petrol starvation under climbing conditions. Even if it were possible to fit an Autovac, a considerable amount of design work would be required. The 8-litre Bentley bonnet and engine proportions were different from those of the existing car. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||