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 Bentley 50 project, covering cost estimates, programme scheduling for 1939/40, and detailed plans for body and wing design prototypes.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 161a\2\ scan0285 | |
| Date | 22th September 1938 | |
| BENTLEY 50. - 5 - 1. Costs RBC submitted a further estimate which was considered at one interim Conference, but when analysed it was not within the figure anticipated, namely, £950. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} hopes that those concerned can propose means of reducing the material and labour figures. The production of Wraith may give a guide to this. 2. Name No further suggestions. 3. Programme The programme in general remains unaltered. It was considered it is probable this car can be announced early in 1940, say, March of that year. This would give a gap of approximately six months between the launching of S.III and B.50. This would mean that material would need to be released in September or October 1939. 4. Bodies. A third body will be necessary and this should be a prototype. EY suggested having a mock-up made. Consideration was to be given to the front end, and some experiments with various designs will be carried out. It was decided that the prototype body would be in wood and aluminium and to be of the 6-light design to FCD.908 with straight moulding. EY will forward to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} tomorrow a copy of this drawing with a flap showing Ev{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}'s latest suggestions for modifications of the back end of the body. Two or three different designs of front wings are to be considered and some samples will be made, so that they can be offered up with the mock-up body. It should be clearly noted that nothing must be spent on tools until this point has been finally decided. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} suggests that when these bodies are going into production a W.representative with Park Ward should meet the tool people with a view to a general discussion on our requirements and the possibilities of production. | ||