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).
Design issues and production delays for the Bentley 1.B.V. all-steel car body.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 83\3\ scan0061 | |
| Date | 1st October 1937 | |
| SECRET. 200 W/S. Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} Hn.{F. C. Honeyman - Retail orders} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}5/R.1.10.37. BENTLEY CAR - 1.B.V. Referring to Cx{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager}6/KW30.9.37., we feel that it is quite impossible to alter the 1.B.V. body as drawn without seriously delaying the production of the first B.III car. The body is already considerably behind-hand, and is going to be still further delayed by the fact that it will be all-steel. When Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} was at the Factory about three weeks ago, we showed him this drawing, and he approved of it. At the time, the question was raised as to whether or not the lid{A. J. Lidsey} covering the luggage compartment should be made into a luggage grid. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} was definitely of the opinion that this was inadvisable for standard practice, although there would be no objection to offering it as optional equipment. We agreed with his decision, because 3.B.IV is an outstanding example of what happens when pro-vision is made for carrying a trunk on the boot lid.{A. J. Lidsey} In this case, if you recollect, 60 lbs was added to the structural mass. 3.B.IV is an unpleasant example of a tail-heavy motor-car. If Park Wards are able to demonstrate that they can get a satisfactory carrier for a small fraction of its weight, then, of course, our present opinion might be altered. In any case, we have asked Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} to go into the whole question of the design of the body at this point, and, presumably, if a satisfactory solution were found it could be incorporated in one of the later Experimental cars. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||