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).
Customer report on the performance and faults of a Streamlined Bentley following an accident.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 161\1\ scan0169 | |
| Date | 5th August 1938 | |
| "N A F T I L O S" 4I RUE FRANCOIS IER P A R I S ---------Le 5th August 1938 Walter SLEATOR Esq. c/o Franco Britannic Autos Ltd I2 Avenue George V PARIS My dear Walter, Your probably heard that my chauffeur had an accident with my Streamlined Bentley, which although apparently not his fault, nevertheless deprives me of the car for the Summer. It was my intention to give the car a run over the Italian autostrades on my way down to Greece and send you a full report on its behaviour, but unfortunately I can only let you have a report on the car over the usual French roads. Chassis- The modification on the front has made her much steadier and springs seem to be slightly better. Engine- There is a definite loss of power over 4000 rvs, even through the intermediary gears. Both in second and third, one has impression that the car is not getting sufficient petrol though it might be a question of ignition of course. Steering- This does not appear to be as good as the standard. There is a tendency to shimming when the brakes are applied especially on rough surfaces. There is also a sport where the steering appears to stick. This is not the usual stickiness you get after a long trip but one particular spot which remains even after washing the car. Perhaps the shock-absorbers are a little too soft in front and account for the bouncing and shimming on rough surfaces and when cornering at speed. The back of the car holds the road like a leach and is perfect. Spring- This is quite good with 2 or 3 people in the car but with any weight of extra passengers and luggage it becomes pronounely bad and although there is no tendancy to "crashing" at the back, the whole car is sloppy and becomes very difficult to drive and holds the road very hardly. Sticking accelerator- The throttle as on my previous Bentley sticks between 2000 and 1500 rvs. which is extremely dangerous on this particular car. The accident occured on Avenue de la{L. A. Archer} Grande Armée when my chauffeur having not realised that the accelerator was sticking at 1500 rvs had trouble in stopping when a taxi which did not have the right of way insisted in crossing with the result that it crashed into the Bentley. No doubt had the accelerator not stuck at this particular moment, the Bentley would have been able to pull up in time. | ||