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 memorandum discussing vehicle roof heights, headroom, and suspension modifications for model B.III.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 97\1\ scan0244 | |
| Date | 29th October 1938 | |
| SECRET Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}1/R.29.10.38. re: B.III. With reference to Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}1/E.27.10.38., the respective heights from the ground to the outside top of the roof when the cars are empty are:- 6.B.IV or 'M' Series Bentley ... 5' 3" 7.B.V. 1st Bentley III ....... 5' 3¾" 8.B.V. - the car running in France 5' 4½". The actual head room in the two types of car is very difficult to determine, because it depends upon the flexibility of the seats, and actually the seats we have in B.III seem harder than those in B.II's, I think mainly because they have had less use. I think it is fair to say, however, that we have no more head room in the B.III's than in the B.II's. The situation, therefore, appears to be this - B.III's are fundamentally higher than B.II's for the same head room because, by doing away with the wells, we have had to raise the back seat to give a comfortable riding position. This represents the difference between 6.B. and 7.B. On 8.B. we have softened down the rear road springs, and in order to avoid hitting the buffers have had to increase the buffer clearance which has raised the car, without passengers, ¾"; with passengers the difference between the two cars is reduced owing to the increased deflection with the low rating springs. We hope that we shall be able to so arrange the suspension of B.III that it is not more than 1" higher than B.II, and this 1" will be due to having no wells. At the same time we are going into the question of producing some wells, but there is no doubt that this means a major frame alteration which could not be contemplated at the moment as it would affect the dies for B.50 and Wraith replacement. However, it may be possible to produce a special frame for the Continental car which would not have to be built down to a price. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} P.S. If this frame were successful it might represent the prototype for the future. | ||