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).
Letter discussing modifications to an early Bentley chassis, coachwork improvements, and issues with snow.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 89\1\ scan0110 | |
| Date | 7th November 1934 | |
| 47961 Exptl. Dept. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}14/KW. 7th November, 1934. G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} Summers, Esq., Messrs. John Summers & Sons, Ltd., Hawarden Bridge Steel Works, Shotton, Chester. Dear Geoffrey, Thank you for your letter of the 1st November. Replying to your queries, there are certain modifications which are being made to early Bentley chassis as opportunity occurs, and if yours has not yet been to Derby you should let them have it when you can conveniently do so. I do not know what "the new and revised edition of the Bentley" is to which Dick refers. The main improvements as far as I am concerned have been made in the coachwork. I am really very anxious that everyone I know who had one of the first 50 Bentleys should change and get a chassis with the improved coachwork, because Park Wards have really tackled the initial complaints seriously and are producing what I believe to be a sound job, better than any other coachbuilt body obtainable. I am sorry about the snow getting under the bonnet. I cannot quite understand this because I experienced the most severe conditions in America when I took a Bentley over there 9 months ago and yet did not encounter this particular trouble. However, presumably you ran into exceptional circumstances of drifting snow, in which case the only thing we can do is to raise the car and this would spoil its road holding for ordinary conditions. | ||