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).
Newspaper clipping detailing the high-speed touring performance of a 4¼-litre Bentley in France and Germany.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 160\3\ scan0189 | |
| Date | 9th February 1938 | |
| culty. HIGH-SPEED TOURING TIMES 9/2/38 ACHIEVEMENT BY BRITISH CAR ABROAD A 4¼-litre Bentley motor-car, of standard design except for a rather higher compression ratio in the engine and a French-built streamlined body, is reported to have put up some remarkable performances recently on French and German roads. An average of 60 miles an hour was maintained over the 180 miles from Paris to Metz, during which a rate of 115 miles an hour was attained, and the 38 miles between Montmirail and Châlons-sur-Maine was covered at an average of 76 m.p.h. On the new German autobahn the average for the first 25 miles out of Mannheim was 100 m.p.h., and it is stated that at one stage over 120 miles an hour was reached. There were four persons and luggage in the car. Petrol consumption, even at these speeds, was not excessive, as at an average of 80 m.p.h. 21 miles to the gallon was attained, and at 60 m.p.h. more than 26 m.p.g. The streamlining no doubt helped this economy. The petrol was bought en route and was of the ordinary pump quality. | ||