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).
Letter of complaint from customer Mr. R. F. Summers to Bentley Motors regarding his Bentley's suspension, brakes, and tyre life.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 89\1\ scan0194 | |
| Date | 25th July 1936 | |
| Copy of letter from Mr. R.{Sir Henry Royce} F.{Mr Friese} Summers to Bentley Motors (1931) Ltd. 25th July, 1936. Dear Sirs, B. 58 - GA. I have now had rather more experience with my Bentley than when I first wrote you my criticisms soon after taking delivery of it. I have very little to criticise about the performance of the car, but I am extremely dissatisfied with the suspension, which, in my opinion, is considerably behind present-day standards. No doubt you are experimenting with independent front wheel springing on this car, and if rumours which I have heard from outside sources are correct, these experiments are well advanced. I should be glad if you could give me some information as to when one may anticipate a model being in production with improved suspension, as this feature of the car leaves a great deal to be desired. The brakes, in my opinion, are also inadequate for the increased performance. The life of the back tyres is extremely disappointing, somewhere between 2,500 and 3,000 being the safe maximum mileage. So far as I am able to judge there is a slight improvement in the standard of workmanship on the coachwork. To sum up, if I could be provided with this performance with reasonable comfort, there would be very little cause for complaint, but I cannot emphasise too strongly that the springing compares very badly with other cars of which I have had experience, at a tithe of the cost of a Bentley. Yours faithfully, (Signed) Richard F.{Mr Friese} Summers. | ||