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).
Advising against the use of controllable dampers on the Bentley due to safety concerns.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 5a\4\ 04-page097 | |
| Date | 24th August 1934 guessed | |
| - 2 - The car did not arrive until the morning after I had left, but Sr. rang me up to confirm our opinions. If one watches the wings of PARK WARDS it will be observed that at the extreme end of the gap between the wing and the running board opens and closes, a definite twisting action taking place the whole time. This is confirmed by the breakages of the spring plate that attaches the wing to the running board. We have, of course, no axe to grind, but only anxious to overcome one of our biggest curses. Re Controllable Dampers on th Bentley. It would be very wise for the sake of the firms reputation not to allow controllable dampers to get into production. They will be a positive menace to anyone who drives a car on the continent. Sr. warns us that the Hispano have just crashed their latest production, through being under damped and out of control, especially when the brakes are applied suddenly. Our reason for stating the above is, a driver is going full out on a perfectly smooth road, he runs on to a bad cambered road. A controllable damper unit is handy. He naturally, to obtain a softer ride for himself or passengers goes over to a soft riding position; no sooner has he done this, than either a car or some fool on the road gets into his path, on go his brakes, the front axle is absolutely out of control, it twists under the car and simply doubles up, and if he gets out alive he will be damned lucky. until the axle is controlled by radius rods, keep the controlable dampers off [Signature] G.W. Hancock. G.W.H. | ||