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).
Criticisms, anxieties, and comparisons of the 3.5 Litre Bentley regarding its performance, steering, engine noise, and price justification.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 3\4\ 04-page335 | |
| Date | 17th June 1933 | |
| not sent To G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} c. to Wsr. Ref. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}1/MJ.17.6.33. Re. 3½ Litre Bentley. This is to confirm our discussion which we had at Brooklands when C., PH., CX.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager}, Rn.{Mr Robinson}, Da{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}, Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}, and myself were present. Briefly, the criticisms of No.2 Bentley (Green car) which Hales have been running for a week are, that the car is not as fast as No.1 and that in some ways it is considered too silent and smooth. It was definitely established at Brooklands (which confirms our tests made at Derby), that the air silencer makes no difference to the performance. As regards the comments on the steering, we do not agree. On the run back from Brooklands this car was driven by EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}, Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer}, Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}, and myself. It was agreed that the tyres were unnecessarily hard, but there was no criticism of the car wandering. We occasionally get this complaint in the variation between standard cars. We have no cure for it except modifying tyre pressures. We know of no way in which we can improve the 3½ Litre Bentley. The one anxiety with the Bentley is whether it is going to be good enough to justify the price which it will be sold at. We know at the present time that the engine when idling is more noisy than the Alvis, Ford, and many others. So far no criticism has been made as regards this, but we are absolutely certain that as soon as the car is put into customers' hands this will not be tolerated. The effect of the air silencer is that without it on the covered car there is sufficient roar and boom to make the car most unpleasant. There is no doubt that within a very short time all motorcars will be fitted with similar silencers. They cost very little, and weigh very little. If we start the Bentley off without an air silencer, in our opinion it will be out of date. We anticipate that our price will be approximately double the price of the sports Alvis and we have got to make the car attractive to justify it. We believe the right attitude is not to make the Bentley more noisy but to make the R.R. more silent, and in that way we should be making progress. | ||