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).
Letter discussing a modern front for a Bentley and future streamlined car designs.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 160\4\ scan0015 | |
| Date | 8th March 1939 | |
| 1379. 8th March, 1939 W. M. {Mr Moon / Mr Moore} Cowen, Esq., Rolls-Royce Limited, 14-15 Conduit Street, LONDON, W. 1. Dear Mr. Cowen, I am sending you herewith a print in which I think your people may be interested. It shows a modern front applied to the 3½-litre "Airline" Bentley, which, you will remember, I had in 1934. I have an article in the forthcoming issue of "The Autocar" discussing "The shape of cars to come" and the burden of it is that I feel myself that the orthodox type of radiator and bonnet will gradually give way to a sloping style offering more scope for streamlining, but more particularly, better visibility. Actually, the picture does not represent my last word in the appearance of the car, as if I were to scheme the whole thing again I should give far more rake to the screen and modify the tail at the same time. But as I have explained this particular illustration merely shows a new front to the old car, which, you may remember, was rather a futurist Bentley, as it was the forerunner of many cars of the kind by different manufacturers who standardised them. I have taken the liberty of sending a copy of this letter to Mr. Robotham, as I think it may interest them at Derby, following talks I 1. | ||