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).
Proposal for a new Bentley sports car model, detailing engine modifications and market positioning.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 21\2\ Scan098 | |
| Date | 5th December 1931 | |
| To Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} X3805. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}1/MJ.5.12.31. X3993. BENTLEY SPORTS CAR. The goodwill of the Bentley Company was built up on a certain class of reliable, efficient, reasonably comfortable, and quiet sports cars. Any car produced under the 'Bentley' name one would expect it to interest existing Bentley owners. The Bentley car has never been a cheap mass production car. The 8 Litre Bentley owner can be looked after by the Phantom ll Continental model, so that it is the 3 and 4½ Litre car we want to look at. The car Bentley's established their reputation on was the 3 Litre Sports Car. This car is very different from the Alfa Romeo. There is no comfort in the Alfa Romeo car, and no chance of getting it, because there is not enough room for a body. It should therefore be realised that if we go for the Alfa Romeo car we are entering a class different to the Bentley. If it is agreed that whatever car we make should be capable of taking a four-door saloon, then the Alfa Romeo car is the wrong type to take as a model. The car we recommend we should make as the Bentley is as follows :- We take the present 'China' engine and fit to it J.1 cylinders and head. This completely alters the appearance of the engine. We fit S.U. carburetter, new exhaust system, Bentley radiator and bonnet. This engine, with high compression, will give 110 HP. maximum, compared with 80 HP. on IB-G4 with a small four-seater body and attention given to windage this car could be guaranteed to give 85 M.P.H. and could be looked upon as a 90 M.P.H. car, which means that it would be faster than Phantom ll Continental and any Bentley except the 8 Litre. This car is immediately available. No design work is necessary and all the essential parts have run 10,000 miles in France. We should fit stiffer road springs and smaller wheels, which would definitely lower the car. We should expect also to use the original 20 HP. frame which was three inches shorter. We beg to be allowed to build up one of these cars. It is only a question of putting it together and in a matter of a very short time we could have a car on the road to try. The effort would in no way be wasted because if we decided it was not useful for Bentley it would represent a Rolls-Royce car which could be made. The advantages we see in this scheme are :- | ||