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).
Competitive threat of the 8 litre Bentley to the Phantom II, proposing to acquire one for analysis.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 21\2\ Scan075 | |
| Date | 22th January 1931 | |
| X3805. HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} RECEIVED 8 JAN 1931 To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Copy to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} 8 litre Bentley. Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}13/E22.1.31 I am sorry to say that this car appears to be becoming a formidable competitor of the Phantom II. We are hearing rather more about it than we like from people who have tried it, and as an indication of the sort of thing, I attach a memo relating to an interview which one of our people recently had with the Maharajah of Rewa who is an owner of one or more P.II cars. There have been other instances of a similar nature. It will be remembered that, when we were making tests of the early P.II cars, I arranged to borrow a 6 litre Bentley car for trial and Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} and Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} agreed that the engine was extraordinarily good and free from the troubles in regard to vibrations and torque reactions which, as indicated in my Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}12/E22.1.31 are doing us considerable harm with our big car business. I was keen at that time and put forward a suggestion that we should buy a Bentley so that we could ascertain why they were free from these troubles in their engine, but you will recollect that you did not favour this proposal. Admittedly there were many things about the Bentley car other than the engine which were nothing like as good as on the P.II but the engine was the point about which we were really concerned. I do not think that any of our technical people have really tried the 8 litre Bentley. We could doubtless arrange this through one of our coachbuilding agents in the same way as we arranged for the trial of the 6 litre, and I should like to have your views on this subject. It seems to be very important not to underrate one's competitors. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Enc. Copy of Cx{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager}/Kn{D. G. McKechnie - Sales}17/ES.12.1.31 | ||