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).
Design and manufacturing specifications for the Bentley III frame side members and general chassis layout.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 99\2\ scan0003 | |
| Date | 6th January 1937 | |
| SECRET 2008. E/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}2/MN.6.1.37. To BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Copy to Dr. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} RHS. HPS.{Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Les.{Ivan A. Leslie} 427 Bentley III Frame Side Members and General Chassis Layout. We send herewith LeC.5456 showing full particulars of the box section chassis side channels for Bentley III. These side members are made of two 'U' shaped pressings electrically spot welded and we are informed by Messrs. Rubery Owen that this construction will prove slightly cheaper than that which we use on Wraith II; as the pressings have no flanges they pass through the dies, thus obviating the necessity for a pressure plate. It is intended that the frame should be bought out complete and that the cross members and frame cross be welded or otherwise attached to the inner side channel prior to the outer side channel being welded into position. Subsequent schemes will supply full particulars of the various cross members and frame cross. It may be subsequently required to produce a car having 4 ins. longer wheelbase. This should be catered for when making the dies by providing a joint immediately in front of the forward fixing for the rear road spring, at which point the added frame length would be introduced. This drawing also gives the wheelbase and track, the slope of the transmission line, the steering column position and other sundry general chassis dimensions. In order to give a comparison between this car and the standard Bentley we have shown the level top of frame for Bentley III and for the present Bentley. It will be noted that the frame is 3" lower than the latter. This drawing will enable you to institute enquiries from Messrs.Rubery Owen for the manufacture of the frame side members. Schemes for the cross and cross members are in hand and as soon as these are finished a complete frame can be ordered. Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} Att:LeC.5456. | ||