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).
Inspection report on the first body for a Bentley III chassis, detailing necessary modifications.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 98\2\ scan0068 | |
Date | 14th January 1938 | |
To By... from Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} c. to Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} [crossed out] c. to Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} [crossed out] c. to Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/FD.{Frank Dodd - Bodies} [crossed out] 2006 [handwritten] Secret. Da{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}29/N.14.1.38. Re: Bentley III - First Body. 404 [handwritten in red] The first body for B.III chassis 1.B.5. was inspected during our visit to London on Wednesday and Thursday last. We saw the complete mock up in its almost finished state, and were very pleased indeed with the general appearance of the car, which is more modern and more imposing than the present Bentley. There was only one thing we wanted to alter and that was the front bumper, which appears to be too far forward, but it cannot be moved back unless we take the starting handle and place it in front of the bumper, and this we are about to do. We are sending to Park Wards a rough drawing to enable them to modify the existing bumper. It will be necessary to produce a new scheme for the bumper, to replace F.CD.30 and a modified design for the starting handle. At the same time, it appears necessary to shorten the bumper brackets from the frame extension by about ½" as they look to stand out too far from the wing. As you are aware this body was built to the old high chassis frame, and when we sat in the rear seat, it was obvious that the toe room under the front sliding seats was totally inadequate. As we know that this body will now be mounted on the lowered chassis frame, we have taken advantage of this, to lower the rear floor 1.500" to improve this feature. We have tried the car with this modification, and find it satisfactory. There will be slight ramps at the sill, and it will have to be explained that on subsequent bodies this will not exist. We think that the room in the boot at the rear is extra-ordinarily good. Continued.... | ||