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 feedback report on the performance of Bentley Chassis B-5-EJ 'Embiricos'.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 27a\1\ Scan295 | |
| Date | 13th August 1935 | |
| Bentley Motors Ltd. Derby...........Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Showrooms SrIO/MLG.13.8.35 Re- Chassis B-5-EJ -Embiricos The first Bentley chassis fitted with a H.C.C.H. has been delivered to one of our customers and I naturally made sure that the person I delivered the chassis to was the "right type". He has just sent me a report on this car and as I realise that he knows something about motor cars, I thought that perhaps it would interest you to read this report. Briefly here is a report about the car, says he- "ENGINE- Noisier, with a distinct exhaust boom at certain periods. Slow running very good. "GEAR BOX- Stiffer, with periods of rattle. Gears do not slip in as easily as on previous model. (general complaint on latest cars SZ) "TRANSMISSION- Better on the whole than previous with less whine round about 70 kms and no knock when starting in second gear. "BRAKES- Much harsher, perhaps more efficient than previous but more abrupt and squeaky when applied at slow speeds. (All brakes are now squeaky) SZ "PINKING-Can be overcome to a certain extent through an addition of Benzol. Best mixture I find 10 litres to a full tank. However Benzol is not to be found easily and is costly. By tinkering with the advance one can avoid pinking and still derive full benefit of the higher compression. " On the whole the car is definitely faster, has better acceleration than old one but is both rougher to handle and less pleasant to drive than the other. Personally I prefer it as it is certainly more amusing but I am afraid that if delivered as it is to the majority of clients they will not appreciate the advantages of speed and acceleration if sacrificed for the smoother and more pleasant running of the ordinary Bentley. " One last word, on long stretches one has to keep an eye on the rev-counter as engine is liable to over rev, and do over 4500 revs even in top. " Leaving Paris at Midnight Monday, I got to Saulieu at 2.30 which is pretty good" (Saulieu 260 from Paris!) "S" h.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} | ||