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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).
The rationale behind creating the 'Streamline' Bentley and the beginning of a test drive on the German Autobahn.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 160\4\  scan0020
Date  3rd March 1939 guessed
  
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a racing or record breaking car, but a sports saloon in which touring is done in perfect comfort and without fatigue.

Why was this "Streamline" created by Bentley?

The following explanation was given to us by Mr. W.A. Robotham, Head of the Experimental Department, a most charming man and a delightful travelling companion. He said:

"You are familiar with our Bentley cars and know that they are good sports cars. They are fast (about 160 k.p.h.), they can keep up a wonderful average thanks to their acceleration and their braking and road holding qualities. Latterly, however, some of our customers have been asking for an even faster car. We decided to see what we could do in this respect, hence the "Stream-line". We are going to try out this car on the German Autobahne - where the highest speeds can be reached with maximum safety - you will time her, stop watch in hand, and together we will find out what her actual petrol consumption is".

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And so we pushed off, in two cars, for Mannheim via Metz. The "Streamline" was piloted by Sleator and the standard Bentley by Robotham. Two English journalists also accompanied us: the dynamic Vernon Morgan of "Reuter's" and the flegmatic John Dugdale of "The Autocar". Our outfit also included an auxiliary driver, M. {Mr Moon / Mr Moore} de La {L. A. Archer} Brosse, and a very able mechanic from the Derby
  
  


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