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).
Status report on the design and weight-saving progress of various vehicle components.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 82\3\ scan0168 | |
| Date | 2nd April 1935 | |
| -2- Ha/Ra.7/KW. 2.4.35. (4) Radiator. The centralised wing and radiator scheme has come out at almost exactly the same figure as the lightened matrix which was recently standardised, together with the cross member and lamp pillars which have been thrown away. We still think there is room for weight saving by design at this point. (5) Rear Axle. Nothing has been done to lighten this. (6) Petrol Tank. We have had no design for a lighter petrol tank but have made one up experimentally, which has saved all that was anticipated. (7) Steering. The Peregrine steering is 10 lbs. lighter than the standard Bentley steering but the efficiency does not seem to be quite so good so it is doubtful whether we shall be able to standardise this. We have a Marles type steering coming through made from American pieces, which should give better efficiency. (8) Shock Absorbers. We have done nothing to these yet. (9) Front Axle. We think that the hubs certainly require design consideration. (10) Magnesium Parts. We have all the larger pieces in magnesium on this car except the bottom half which will be fitted to the 20/25. If these complete the test satisfactorily we shall have reached a point where we think we shall be justified in getting some magnesium pieces on production. (11) Dynamo Size. Nothing has been done on the Bentley but a smaller dynamo will be run on the 20/25, which if successful can be standardised on the Bentley. | ||