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).
Bentley publicity and discrepancies in published car performance figures from 'The Motor' magazine.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 160\5\ scan0083 | |
| Date | 19th December 1940 | |
| COPY. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Cx{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager}5/KW.19.12.40. BENTLEY PUBLICITY With regard to the penultimate paragraph of Page 2. of my Cx{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager}3/KW.17.12.40, I ought to have added that a third report of this car by "The Motor" in May 1939, published the maximum speed of the car as 88 m.p.h. on the overdrive. On this occasion too we had to find an excuse for the car's performance, and took it up with "The Motor", with the result that they published another notice qualifying their article - I attach a copy for your perusal - but even in this you will see they only gave a maximum speed of 89. At our express wish they did add a last paragraph which hinted at the car's capability of reaching higher speeds of between 93-94 m.p.h. when circumstances permit. These figures, as you will see, indicate very clearly how the performance was deteriorating even in the hands of experts. Att: Extra copy for Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} if required. Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} Page from "Motor" of May 23, 1939. | ||