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).
Test drive report on Bentley car 2-B-4, detailing handling, steering wheel improvements, bonnet rattle, warming-up time, and headlamp colour.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 88\2\ scan0083 | |
| Date | 4th February 1935 | |
| To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} re 2-B-4. (Bn{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington}'s Car). I tried the above car this week-end, and it appeared to me to be one of the liveliest and nicest Bentleys I have driven. There is undue lamp and wing movement, but this car is not fitted with the improvements for reducing this. The steering wheel on 2-B-4 is one of the sample ones we obtained with the thinner rim, having a 45° flat on the top inside and grooves on the bottom of the rim instead of on the inside diameter. This rim is very comfortable to hold, and a great improvement, also it is now standard. The bonnet side rattled on the o.s. of car, but we have since standardised a feature to deal with this. I noticed that the car seemed a long time warming up, compared with the Bentleys we have here fitted with bypass control. The orange coloured light from the headlamps seemed to be an advantage for night driving, but more experience would be necessary to form a final judgment. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} | ||