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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).
Visit to France to inspect a Van Vooren Bentley and their construction methods.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 90\1\  Scan143
Date  16th July 1935
  
CWW/MO.
16th July, 1935.

REPORT ON VISIT TO FRANCE.

I was met by Mr.Scleator at Le Bourget and rode in the Van Vooren Bentley for approximately two hours.
During the run it was surprising to note, even after the large mileage travelled, that the body was in a perfect condition as regards creaks, noises and no damage at all in any portion.

There was one peculiar feature in the riding of the car which I could not quite fathom, being a passenger. I asked Mr.Scleator to let me take the wheel and after about a quarter of an hour's running I asked the poundage of the springs and was told that they were definitely stronger than those springs we use in England.

On the Van Vooren Bentley, at varying speeds on different road surfaces, there was a complete absence of what one might refer to as "chudder" in the whole of the car, which is very noticeable on the cars we run in this country. This I attribute to the stronger springs.

We then paid a visit to Messrs.Van Vooren's Works to examine similar bodies in the course of construction. I was amazed at the method used in construction in respect of the small quantity of ironwork about the body. The whole body was constructed of wood with just four pieces of strengthening ironwork, one on the face of the front pillar and one on the edge of the front pillar as shown in sketch A.{Mr Adams}

This is very surprising indeed as in the past we have been repeatedly requested by your Technical Department to add more and more and make stronger the various body plates.

The whole body I will agree was panelled in steel and all the joints were put together with an insert of cloth which method we ourselves use only in the roof. There were certain sections of the body where the cloth had not been inserted and when asked the reason for this, the Manager simply said they did not think it necessary.

There were four silent travel fittings only on the car, one in front of the wheel arch and one on the front pillar. We ourselves used on B.130.AH. ten of these silent travel fittings as against the four used by Messrs.Van Vooren.
  
  


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