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).
Coachwork modifications on a Bentley body, regarding the steering wheel and front seat position.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 1\1\ B001_104 Body-page73 | |
| Date | 21th April 1933 | |
| X104 To EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn{Mr Robinson}! Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson}3/KT.21.4.33. On 5.Per.II shewn on N.sch.3512 we find that the steering wheel comes too close to the bottom windscreen rail where the windscreen wipers are located and where there is an ash tray. We have carefully measured the column position and dimensions and find that they are almost exactly the same as on N.sch.3512. The trouble seems to be that the rail carrying the windscreen wipers has grown out towards the driver in a manner that was not intended. Since the column position seems reasonable in relation to the pedals, it appears that the coachwork should be altered. An alternative is to lengthen the column slightly which we can easily do, but it means that the front seat will have to go back slightly, which we consider to be undesirable from the rear passenger's point of view. Perhaps you could come up to Derby to see the 2nd. Bentley body and to discuss the point we raise in connection with Per.5. You have doubtless seen the admirable treatise on streamlining in the S.A.E. Journal of April. When you come up to Derby perhaps you could bring some sketches incorporating some of the information given in this article, modified to suit practical coachwork conditions, and we will get on with our models right away. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson} | ||