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).
Faults discovered during a 30,000-mile test of an all-steel Bentley body built by Park Wards.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 84\3\ scan0003 | |
| Date | 4th June 1936 | |
| X204 W/S - Hn.{F. C. Honeyman - Retail orders} c. to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} c. to WOP. c. to JLR. Ha/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}1/KW.4.6.36. All-Steel Bentley Body. We have now completed nearly 30,000 miles on the original all-steel Bentley body. Certain faults were immediately apparent in this body when it was first constructed, and at the end of 10,000 miles we gave Park Wards a chance to put these features right. It may be that, since it is difficult to pull an all-steel body to pieces, they did not make a sound job of the modifications, but the fact remains that in the main exactly the same irritating minor troubles have occurred on the second run in France as took place on the first run. One of the most annoying features is that the screws holding the door wedges fall, allowing the doors to rattle. Maybe Park Wards took note of the troubles and have put them right on the production batch of all-steel bodies they are building. In case this is not so, however, we are sending our car down to them on Friday (unless we hear that Mr. Ward will not be there) to go over the points in detail and compare the construction with the production car. We think it is a pity that Park Wards did not make a 100% job of our all-steel body because thereby they have undoubtedly lost a good deal of valuable experience. They had the body more than two months. The car should arrive at Park Wards some time on Friday morning, unless you hear to the contrary. Probably you would like to be there to take an interest in it. We attach a list of the faults for your information. Ha/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Att: Ha/HPH.7/KW.3.6.36. | ||