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 to A.H.R. Fedden discussing the performance and features of the 4 1/4 litre engine compared to the 3 1/2 litre.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 89\2\ scan0159 | |
| Date | 17th April 1936 | |
| x261 b Exptl. Dept. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}23/KW. 17th April, 1936. A.H.R. Fedden, Esq., The Bristol Aeroplane Co.Ltd., Filton House, BRISTOL. Dear Fedden, Thank you for your letter of April 9th with reference to the 4 1/4 litre. The actual top power output of this unit will be no greater than that of your car fitted with the high compression head. It is really equivalent to fitting a 16% lower axle ratio on the car, only the top speed remains the same or slightly better. For the man who enjoys using his gears, therefore, the 4 1/4 litre does not offer a great deal. It has one other feature, and that is, that it is smoother over most of the range, particularly at the high speeds from 3500 to 4500. I do not know whether we are really dropping the 3 1/2 litre; I think the impression was that the public might drop it, but so far it continues to sell. My own candid opinion is that if you really like your present car now that you have had all this work done to it, you should stick to it until you are satisfied that the changes made to the chassis justify your getting another car. I am afraid this may not be very helpful, but it is very hard to advise anybody without having tried their own particular car. As an example of this, one of my friends had one of the original Bentleys which was a particularly delightful car, and he has had two others since, neither of which he likes as well as his original acquisition. | ||