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 design philosophy and evolution of the Bentley V chassis.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 160\5\ scan0074 | |
| Date | 15th December 1940 | |
| 15.12.40. BENTLEY V.{VIENNA} Since Rolls-Royce took over the Bentley Company, the evolution of this chassis has proceeded on well defined lines. The object of the Development Staff has been to produce a completely reliable automobile from which the driver can extract the maximum performance with the minimum amount of fatigue. There are cars which can put up astonishing averages over certain roads when handled by expert drivers. Performance only interests the Bentley engineers if it can be used by the average driver under average road and weather conditions, seven days in the week. It will not be so used unless the driver is, and feels, safe and also suffers from the minimum amount of fatigue travelling over a given distance. It is not difficult to understand why the above formula fails to produce an exciting car. In point of fact, it can be said that, since its inception, the Rolls-Bentley has become less and less exciting to drive at any given speed. The late 3½ litres were less noisy than their predecessors. The immediate impression was that the car had less performance and therefore was not so thrilling. Ride control improved the high speed stability: a stable car minimises the impression of speed. Big tyres increase the comfort of the suspension: if you are thrown about sufficiently, it is not difficult to believe a fast speedometer, but if you ride smoothly at 90 m.p.h. the impression of speed is diminished. So the Bentley was evolved, and in spite of its first cost, has always been an economical car to run. To drive as fast as conditions will permit means an average of between 50/55 m.p.h. on most of the English Main roads, and yet, even in the hands of a hard driver, it is seldom that the consumption is worse than 17½ miles to the gallon, whilst to require brakes relined at under 30,000 miles is the exception rather than the rule. An enthusiastic owner, Mr. E.R. Hall, one of whose hobbies was motor racing, was so impressed by the sheer performance of his Bentley, | ||