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).
Secret and confidential letter to Park Ward & Co. Ltd. about the design of a new Bentley 'Cresta' type chassis and body.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 111\4\ scan0131 | |
| Date | 20th March 1939 | |
| c. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/FD.{Frank Dodd - Bodies} Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} #1622 800a Secret & Confidential. 20th. March 1939. BY.8/N. Messrs. Park Ward & Co.Ltd., 473, High Road, Willesden, London N.W.10. Dear Sir, Re: Bentley 'Cresta' - 4.B.50. We send herewith a print of FD.{Frank Dodd - Bodies}371 shewing the design of a body for a Bentley 'Cresta' type chassis - 4.B.50 and also a complete specification. This chassis really consists of a B.5. chassis with the B.50 wheelbase and rear track, the bent front pan, and moved forward radiator. We attach herewith a print giving the list of chassis drawings applicable, to enable you to set out the chassis, and also to modify your B.50 chassis jig to suit this new design. The special features of this rather modernised body design are its low aerodynamic drag, due to cleaning up the front by the placing of the headlamps and horns in the wings, and the introduction of a very high cat-walk. We shall have to supply you with the special headlamps, which we shall have built up for this car. There will be a slight modification to the wing support from the radiator, and we shall send you a picture of this in a very short while; in the meantime we would be glad if you would go ahead with the full size drawing and the dummy chassis modifications, with a view to having this body ready as soon as possible, as the chassis is well advanced. Yours faithfully, FOR ROLLS-ROYCE LIMITED. CHIEF ENGINEER - CHASSIS. | ||