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).
Issues with ground clearance and overloaded tyres on a Bentley 50 due to small wheels.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 158\2\ scan0067 | |
| Date | 17th January 1944 | |
| Confidential. 1339 To: Wym.{G. Harold Whyman - Experimental Manager} from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} 6/H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} 17.1.44. c. to Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} c. to Jnr.{Charles L. Jenner} BENTLEY 50. With reference to your Wym.{G. Harold Whyman - Experimental Manager} 7/OH. 10.1.44. regarding 3.B.50. ground clearance, this car is, of course, fitted with small wheels. I know that these wheels give improved steering but we are really wrong in running them because : (a) the tyres are overloaded. (b) the ground clearance is insufficient. I should like to revert to 7" tyres for a little while to get an impression of the vehicle under these circumstances and, at the same time, check the ground clearance with the car fully loaded. If it is inadequate at any point, then we have got to increase the buffer clearance by additional spring camber, but we might as well get this figure inserted on the drawings now. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||