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).
The proposal to build a custom aerodynamic 'Paulin Bentley' for Mr. Embericos.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 161\1\ scan0056 | |
| Date | 15th November 1937 | |
| For "Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}" copy to "Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}". "WHH", "HBY", "Da{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}". 1380 PARIS re Wind Tunnel Tests on Vanvooren Bentley. ----------------- and as it would appear from this that the Company is looking for somebody who would have the car built at his expense, I would like to point out that Mr Embericos would at once be willing to have a body of this description put on to a chassis, on condition that: 1o We could [handwritten: give] him 140 HP, 2o Provide the correct back axle ratio 3o Fit a gear-box in conformity with the rest of car. 4o Supply adequate brakes, so that the car would be capable of attaining the suggested speed at the required number of revs. Incidentally, I have very little doubt that the car will attain a speed of 125 miles per hour, other cars of similar type having attained the estimated speeds in relation to their horse-power Finally, the car in question should not be called the "Vanvooren Bentley", but if a name is required, it might be called the "Paulin Bentley", as Mr Paulin is the aero-dynamic engineer dealing with that side of the question as far as our car is concerned. He is also rather an opponent of Mr Andreau and in the opinion of quite a number of people, has recently done some rather remarkable work. In other words, his aim is not to get away too much from the orthodox shape of a body, and still obtain some rather amazing results, whereas Andreau's cars one hardly dares put on the road, as they either look like an over-grown dolphin or a queer looking aeroplane without wings, and the results obtained by him in several cases recently have not been in accordance with his announcements, from the theoretical point of view. I think it would be to the Company's advantage if they do not wish to carry out the experiments themselves, to let Mr Embericos have the car, as he is a friend of the Company, apart from being a personal friend of mine, and he would be quite willing to let the Experimental Department have the car as and when necessary to carry out any experiments they may wish to make. R.{Sir Henry Royce} PS- There would be no question with Mr.Embiricos of any promise of the peak speed being guaranteed. | ||