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).
Letter from a law firm discussing a New York Times article and offering opinions on a potential new Bentley model for the U.S. market.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 26\1\ Scan095 | |
| Date | 25th April 1960 | |
| Acknowledged GILBERT AND SEGALL COUNSELORS AT LAW 405 PARK AVENUE [Handwritten top right:] Gry{Shadwell Grylls} [crossed out] (Please pass on the cutting) [Circled:] JPB JS{Mr Johnson's Secretary} [Left column:] PHIL E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} GILBERT, JR.{Mr James Royce} HAROLD A.{Mr Adams} SEGALL ROBERT E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} YOUNG DAVID C. REYNOLDS EUGENE D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} MC GAHREN, JR.{Mr James Royce} DONALD L. GODINER WILLIAM G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} CRANE PAUL B. FIRSTENBERG [Right column:] TELEPHONE PLAZA 2-9650 CABLE ADDRESS 'OILANDSEG' NEW YORK NEW YORK 22 April 25, 1960 Dr. F.{Mr Friese} Llewellyn-Smith Rolls-Royce Limited Crewe, England Dear Doc: I enclose a very interesting article from the New York Times about compact cars. The particular thing I want to call your attention to is the series of remarks about foreign cars. Obviously the article is directed to the smaller foreign cars which "sparked the Detroit revolution". You will note, however, the statement, to which I personally subscribe, that the foreign car "is rapidly losing caste, for, as one dismayed viewer at the International Auto Show said yesterday, when the show ended, 'the imports are starting to look like the classless United States cars.'" For whatever it is worth, I consider this to be a very pertinent observation. As I understand it, Rolls-Royce is considering bringing out a new lower price Bentley. I know nothing of what sort of car it would be. From my amateur's point of view, however, I think that for the U. S. market such a car should be very different from a standard U.S. car, in performance characteristics and, above all, in appearance. Certainly, in my opinion, no premium car, and indeed no foreign car, which simply resembles an ordinary U.S. car, has a Chinaman's chance in this market, however good it may be as a car. For whatever it is worth, there are my views on the subject. In any event, I think you will find the article interesting. Yours sincerely, [Signature] Enclosure | ||