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).
From Professor E. C. Dodds detailing a 400-mile test drive of a Bentley with independent front wheel springing.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 90\2\ scan0176 | |
| Date | 20th June 1940 guessed | |
| COPY Memorandum from Professor E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} C. Dodds on Bentley Car with Independent front wheel springing, etc. The car was taken by me and driven for some 400 miles along roads of various types, ranging from arterial roads such as Western Avenue and the road to Oxford to country lanes in Shropshire. I was therefore able to test the car very thoroughly. Compared to my own 4 1/4 litre Bentley car the first thing noticed was the smoothness of the springing. The standard 4 1/4 is distinctly choppy even at low speeds, and I noticed that there was no suggestion of this at all in the car under examination. This I found to be the case right the way through the range, even when the shock absorber tension was increased to the maximum. I did not, however, experience the same sense of security at high speeds in this car as I do in my own, and I noticed some uncertainty in braking heavily at high speeds. The general feeling of the car resembled much more that of an American car than an English sports car. The steering I thought was perfect, and at no time did I experience any uncertainty with regard to accuracy. The gearbox differs from my own in the synchro-mesh from one to two, but again I do not like it as well as my own. It reminded me very much of the Phantom III gear box in that it was definitely heavier to operate and did not move with the ease of the standard 4 1/4. Admittedly the synchro-mesh between one and two enables the unskilful to make a rapid change and therefore will, I am sure, be appreciate by many drivers. The engine was quieter than mine, and lacked the exhaust noise. On the whole I thought it was smoother except that there appeared to be periods in the engine. This was referred to by Major Cox, and therefore I will not comment on it, nor upon the while of the overhead top. With regard to maximum speed, I was unable to get the car over 90 miles an hour despite most favourable conditions. The road I took was well known to me, and I have been over it often in my own car. On the Oxford by-pass going north I had an absolutely clear run, and it will be remembered that this begins with a long down hill run followed by a long level stretch. I had an ideal road when I struck it as there was nothing in sight and there are no cross-roads. I was still unable to get the car to go more than 90 miles. In my own car I can guarantee to get up to 95, and under favourable conditions with a following wind, can actually touch 100 miles an hour on this stretch. The brakes I thought were excellent and very similar to those on my own car, but I experienced unsteadiness when braking heavily at high speeds. This was probably because I am not accustomed to driving a car with such soft suspension. Continued. | ||