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).
Technical aspects, including visibility and braking, of the Paulin Streamline Bentley.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 161\1\ scan0238 | |
| Date | 3rd November 1938 | |
| 1380. SECRET. W/S. c. from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}5/R.3.11.38. PAULIN STREAMLINE BENTLEY. C8/C.1.11.38. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/R 29.9.38 Attached is a copy of a memo I wrote to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} as a result of Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}10/E.26.9.38. We do not think the criticism on lack of visibility in this car could have been the result of actually driving it, because our impressions were that it was quite up to the standard of the ordinary car with regard to work in traffic, though it would not be so good for seeing the countryside. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} drove this car, and he did not consider the visibility was bad. With regard to the brakes, it must be remembered that though they get more work due to the reduced wind resistance of the car, they also benefit from the fact that this was an extremely light body, the complete outfit weighing only 32 cwts. We should, therefore, expect the brakes on the replica to have a much less severe time than those used by a customer like Raymond Mays who habitually indulges in road racing practice with his chassis. In other words, from a purely technical point of view we consider that this car is as safe as an ordinary car, particularly in view of its improved directional stability. We are at present, with Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}'s agreement, investigating aero dynamic bodies ourselves as the only way of getting the necessary performance from a Sports Car, and, therefore, can hardly condemn it in the hands of a customer. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||