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).
Confidential letter to Park Ward & Co. Ltd. regarding features for future Bentley 5 bodies.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 98\1\ scan0261 | |
| Date | 18th August 1939 | |
| HOH Confidential. 18th. August 1939. BY.26/N. Messrs. Park Ward & Co.Ltd., 473, High Road, Willesden, London N.W.10. Attention of Mr.C.Ward. Dear Sir, Re: Future Bentley 5. Bodies. You will no doubt have seen the announcement of the new Jaguar, and the list of new coachwork features. We feel that we should look into these seriously, because our clientele will not let us close our eyes to what they get on a Jaguar for very much less cost. We will deal with the items in order. 1. Air conditioning and defrosting. We can supply a similar heater and defroster superior to the Clayton. At the moment this is an extra. 2. Front seats to slide and raise. Our Mr.Evernden has described your design which is an improvement on those fitted to the car under discussion, and we look forward with interest to trying them. We have already taken up the question of an adjustable steering wheel. 3. Polished tables. We note also that you are looking into the provision of polished tables at the back of the front seats. At the moment we are not too interested in these because they take knee room off the rear passengers and cannot be used with tubular seats of the Vanvooren type, which are a great advance on any we have so far experienced. Cont'd...... | ||