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).
Redesign of running boards and progress on a Bentley III body mock-up with Park Ward.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 98\2\ scan0069 | |
| Date | 14th January 1938 | |
| -2- Da{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}29/N.14.1.38 Cont'd.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} -------------------------- The narrowed running boards were obviously ineffective in preventing one soiling the bottom of ones trousers, and it is apparent that to overcome this difficulty, running boards have to disappear altogether. So we have worked on the shape of the front wings, so as to finish them at the front doors, and the running board has become merely a small valance, only slightly wider than the body. This will be a useful experiment in testing the efficacy of front wings without running boards. It is expected that the complete mock up with lamps and horns, and fully painted and ready for inspection, will be available on Wednesday next, and we shall have to arrange for Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} and Sales to take an early opportunity of viewing the complete mock up with a view to approving in particular, the frontal appearance, and general body dimensions, so as to for ever after avoid criticism. The writer would like to have warning of this visit, in order that he may inspect the mock up in its final state, immediately prior to the Sales visit to make sure that everything is as it should be. We left with Messrs.Park Ward complete instructions to enable them to complete the second Bentley 3 chassis jig, in accordance with the up-to-date chassis specification, and also gave them instructions to bring No.1. jig up-to-date as soon as the mock up is dismantled. In order to get a body for the second Bentley III chassis 2.B.5. moving immediately, we have asked them to put in hand a replica of 1.B.5. except that it should be made to take advantage of the new lowered chassis frame. To do this we suggested they rub out from their drawing the original chassis frame, and draw in the latest. We also told them that we should want very quickly a third body of more advanced design, and a drawing of this will be sent to them in the course of the next few days. It was pointed out to them that the construction of these two B.III bodies should represent the construction which they will offer us in the £250 production body, and we would like them to tell us briefly what that construction will be. Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} | ||