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).
Discrepancies in acceleration figures for 3½ and 4¼ litre Bentley models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 82\4\ scan0254 | |
| Date | 21th February 1936 | |
| S/W. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Gry.{Shadwell Grylls} re- 4¼ litre Bentley. Cx{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager}2/KW21.2.36. Many thanks for Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/GryIO/KW19.2.36, with particular reference to the acceleration figures. I am very anxious to obtain accurate acceleration figures both of the 3½ and 4¼ litre models, so that we can discuss this rather interesting subject with any intending purchasers who follow such performances, but there appears to be some discrepancy between the figures now supplied by you on your chart - of which you sent 3 copies - and the figures supplied in memorandum ref: Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/FD{Frank Dodd - Bodies}4/KW7.1.36. In this latter memo you give us comparisons between the Ford V-8 30 h.p., the 4¼ litre Bentley and the P.III. By comparing the figures of the big bore Bentley in that memorandum with the figures on your chart there is a very important difference in the results, which I quote hereunder :- Figures quoted in Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/FD{Frank Dodd - Bodies}4/KW7136 : Figures taken from Chart dated 8.2.36, accompanying Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/GryIO/KW19.2.36 : : Accelerations -Top Gear : M.p.h. : : 10-30 5.6 secs : 6.2 secs 10-40 9.4 " : 8.6 " 10-50 13.6 " : 11.6 " 10-60 17.6 " : 16.0 " 10-70 23.4 " : 20.0 " So much for the 4¼ litre. On the Chart accompanying Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/GryIO/KW19.2.36 you also give us the 3½ litre acceleration figures, but if you will kindly compare those with the figures obtained from the curve of acceleration issued from the Print Room January 9th, 1934 - and of which I attach my only copy, which please return with your reply - you will here find a discrepancy in the two records of the 3½ litre car acceleration. You will, I am sure, appreciate how important (contd) | ||