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).
Gear lever fault on a Bentley V Trials Car, new gearboxes, and a car test request.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 97\2\ scan0196 | |
| Date | 19th February 1941 | |
| To C. LONDON from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}5/ET.19.2.41. BENTLEY V.{VIENNA} ------- Thanks for C.1/C.17.2.41. The trouble on the Trials Car with the gear lever was a very simple one. The change speed lever is fastened to the frame and, when this car was delivered to London, we understand that the change speed lever was not available and so this came down afterwards. When it was fitted in London information was not available as to the correct packing between this lever and the frame, and consequently the operating lever was not in the right position in the gear box and jumped out of the selector. This, therefore, is neither a production nor an experimental defect. It has now been agreed that we can make six new gearboxes so that, if you like, you can let the Duke of Kent have a car, but I suggest nobody else, as these boxes will be needed to replace existing defective ones. Pomeroy has asked if he can have the Trials Car on March 8th-9th, in order to convince himself that the maximum speed is 95 m.p.h. or better, under road conditions. I should like him to have the car if you can arrange it, as he gave us a very good write-up in his second article and is going to do another one on the "Corniche". Possibly you would communicate with him direct. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||