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).
Performance review letter providing feedback on a Bentley Car B-17-AE after 1,000 miles of use.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 88\1\ scan0045 | |
| Date | 11th January 1934 guessed | |
| COPY. Pass & Joyce Ltd. 373, Euston Road, London, N.W.1. Messrs Bentley Motors (1931) Ltd. 16, Conduit Street, W.1. Dear Sirs, re- Bentley Car- B-17-AE. I promised to let you have my impressions after running the above car over 1,000 miles, and I therefore beg to submit to you the following remarks :- ENGINE Very Good indeed. Slight uneven running at very low speeds, presumably due to high compression. STEERING Very good. GEARBOX This has been changed once. There is still, however, a considerable amount of play in the present one and my original box was much quieter than the one now fitted to the car. ROAD HOLDING Very good. STARTING Occasionally on very cold mornings, or after having stood for a considerable period, it seems as if the battery is only just strong enough to turn the motor. I have not yet actually been let down, but any slight carelessness in adjusting levers might cause this. BRAKES Good, but however carefully the car may be washed, they do not hold for some little while afterwards, and then very often squeak. After fierce application the squeak will disappear, but if the car stands half an hour, the squeak will probably appear again. Sometimes they seem to become too dry and "judder" and when foot brake pedal is carelessly applied, you get a decided "plonk". HEADLIGHTS. Considering the speed of the car these lamps do not, in my opinion, seem powerful enough and I do not care for the shape, as I do not think this is sufficiently distinctive. (contd) | ||