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).
Translated letter from a customer detailing a European tour and feedback on a new 4.1/4 Litre Bentley, noting a transmission issue.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 146\3\ scan0033 | |
| Date | 10th August 1936 | |
| TRANSLATION OF LETTER FROM MR. HENRI FAVIER, 45 Bd.{Mr Berend}GOUVION St.CYR PARIS, DATED 10th AUGUST 1936 Dear Sirs, I have just returned after a very interesting trip that I have made in Switzerland, South Germany, Austria, Hungary, & Italy with my new 4.1/4 litre Bentley. I would like to express all satisfaction that this car gives me; smoothness of engine, silence, big reserve of power etc. I climbed up the "Gossglockner" to 2600 metres and up the "Stelvio" to 2750 metres in very hot weather and the engine never overheated once. Generally, on stiff and fairly long hills, when the temperature goes fairly high, the engine loses power but with my 4.1/4 litre Bentley I maintained a considerable reserve of power which would have enable me to climb the hills at a much higher speed than I did. I also made a speed test whilst remaining below the maximum speed that is to say that I travelled between 3.500 and 3.800 revs. and I only exceeded 4.000 revs. on very rare occasions and for short periods on the Autostrade from Como to Turin. The 46 first kilometres were done at an average of 136 kms an hour. I then slowed up and was almost ovliged to stop on account of repairs which were being carried out on the Autostrade. In an hour I did 160 kms separating the two towns in 1 hour 15 minutes. My car was heavily charged and I repeat that the temperature was very hot. My engine did not overheat an instant and the performance of the car was perfect. I am therefore fully satisfied with the car which I intend to keep a long time but I must point out a big inconvenience that I have already noticed on the 4.1/4 litre Bentley car which I have tried and I refer to the play in the transmission which is annoying which is chiefly when the engine is hot and also when reversing. This is to be noticed and when declutching to change speed continual noises of the transmission are noticed by the persons in the car who have no special mechanical knowledge. This inconvenience must be definitely eliminated and I must tell you my deception that a firm as serious and conscientious as Rolls-Royce should deliver a chassis of such a high class with such a disagreeable imperfection. I should be much obliged to you for pointing out to the Works this big inconvenience and I hope that before long this will be remedied and that you can apply the modification decided on to my car. Sgd. Favier | ||