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).
Use of a Bentley III dashboard on the current Bentley chassis, questioning its necessity and benefit.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 132\3\ scan0158 | |
| Date | 2nd July 1937 | |
| Handwritten top: Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Eo - What about Bentley III ? 1125 Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Dashboard Typed: SECRET. S/W. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. " E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. " By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Bentley Wider Radiator. Reference Rml8/R25.6.37, would you please let us know whether this dashboard is of similar design to that intended for Bentley III. If not, we doubt very much the wisdom, or necessity of adopting it in place of the present standard. It would mean a definite alteration to our standard body design, and, although we could make that alteration in the next batch of Bentley bodies, it would not seem a very useful move unless the dashboard is to be perpetuated on the next Bentley design. Its only immediate advantage would be the removal of the angle between the line of the bonnet and the line of the scuttle, but as this is seldom if ever criticised by purchasers it is not a subject of complaint which needs early attention. If therefore this wider dash is not of the same design as that for Bentley III we do not see any useful purpose in adopting it on the present Bentley chassis. Handwritten bottom: Bentley III dash will be the equivalent of the 2" wide dash of Std. Bentley, but, of course the dash woods will not be interchangeable Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} Hives | ||