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).
Report discussing the disappointing top speed of the 4 1/4 litre Bentley, referencing various tests and user reports.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 160\5\ scan0082 | |
| Date | 17th December 1940 | |
| - 2 - Cont'd.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} I first tried this model, that I think the car should be faster, and will disappoint many from that point of view. I, of course, appreciate that with the same power available as previously, and with a heavier motor car and larger body, the result is only what one would expect. Nevertheless, I still think that a 4 1/4 litre Bentley withall that name implies, should be able to do more than 90 m.p.h. on the level - true speed about 86 m.p.h. Jack Barclay in his report, whilst not giving the actual speed in that report, says : - "The only criticism I could make would be for the car to have a maximum speed of 105 m.p.h." I therefore made a point of asking him the maximum speed his car did provide, and he told me that the maximum speed was 90 m.p.h. You will also remember that Sr. reported that, in his view, the car would be adversely criticised from the point of view of speed. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}, of course, must have seen most of these reports, which are many months old, and I wonder he did not at the time take up this question of speed if he did not agree with it. In his report Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}1/R.25.10.38, he says : - "Briefly the production B III may be expected to have the performance as an "M" series Bentley, provided it is fitted with a body of the same weight and of the same air resistance." We know, of course, that the body is heavier and has greater wind resistance. The Bentley performance has been slowly getting worse as regards the maximum speed during the later years of its production, as revealed by the published figures. For instance, "the Autocar" tried the 4 1/4 litre in May 1936, and showed the best timed speed over the 1/4 mile 94.74 m.p.h. "The Autocar" in April 1939 showed the best timed speed over the 1/4 mile as 92.78. ("M" series.) After all, the proof of the car is in its performance in the various peoples' hands, and I think I only have to quote the foregoing extracts from the reports of these various people to confirm that "The Motor" technical representative is perfectly right in what he said about its speed. Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} | ||