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).
Letter from coachbuilder Park Ward to Bentley Motors regarding potential body cracking on Experimental Saloon 5-B-IV.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 82\3\ scan0299 | |
| Date | 14th May 1935 | |
| Copy. Park Ward & Co., Ltd., 473, High Road, Willesden, N.W.10. Ref. CWW/MO. 14th May, 1935. Messrs. Bentley Motors (1931), Ltd. 16, Conduit Street, London, W.1. Dear Sirs, Re:- Experimental Saloon 5-B-IV. We acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 8th instant which we regret we have not answered previously as it has taken a short time to investigate the details of construction of this coachwork. We are extremely sorry to read your report and it is a pity that we shall be unable to make an early inspection as we feel sure that the special experimental mounting of the front wings has some bearing on the body's present condition and it would be extremely interesting for us to ascertain if this has, to some extent, caused the cracking of the body which seems to be very probable. The construction of the body itself differs from the standard type in the following details, which were stipulated at the time of ordering. (1) Wooden front pillars. (2) Wooden centre pillars. (3) Frameless fixed windscreen. (4) No cornice - the edge of the panel being swaged. Metal wheel arches and runners were fitted which seems to show that they do not serve much useful purpose as a prevention against cracking. The normal body ironwork strengthening pieces were also fitted. | ||