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 proposing a comparative performance test between a new Bugatti and a Bentley at Brooklands.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 3\6\ 06-page232 | |
| Date | 1st October 1934 | |
| Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Bt{Capt. J. S. Burt - Engineer}8/1.10.34. Dear Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}, I am not quite certain whether I have been corresponding with you or Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} as I have reason to believe you wrote the last note I received, but it was signed Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} In any case I don't suppose this matters. I had a talk to my brother as to any interesting cars, and I find that Mr. Noel Rees and the Hon. Bryan Lewis have each bought a new Bugatti which they speak of as being very fine jobs and they are under the impression that they are a lot better than the Bentley. whilst my brother is very sceptical, he thought perhaps you would like to try one of these two cars and he says he would be able to arrange a date at Brooklands at the beginning of November, since the cars are due for delivery on the 12th October. The particulars are as follows:- Bugatti, 3.3 litres unblown. 2 overhead cam shafts. The engine is stated to be remarkably quiet. Saloon bodies. Apparently my brother has undertaken to produce a Bentley, possibly his own but maybe a borrowed one, to carry out the following tests against the Bugatti:- 1. Standing lap. 2. a 1/2-mile from 20 m.p.h. on top gear. 3. Standing 1/4-mile. I don't know whether it would be interesting to you to watch or take part in these tests or whether you would rather I tried to arrange for the Bugatti to be available on another occasion. I think you know my brother has a Railton Terraplane saloon which could be available to test any day you like, if you wanted it you could have it at no fun tools Yours Stuart Previous corres. in Hall's File - 7962 | ||