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).
Reuters Weekly Motoring Letter discussing British prestige in motoring and Bentley's achievements.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 160\3\ scan0204 | |
| Date | 16th February 1939 | |
| REUTERS WEEKLY MOTORING LETTER Promoting British Prestige On The Continent Bentley's Remarkable Achievements 120 M.P.H. And 26 M.P.G. At 60 M.P.H. LONDON, February 16, 1939. It is the constant grouse of all those in Britain, and there are now many thousands, interested in the speed side of motoring that, generally speaking, British cars lag so far behind others in this respect. True the two fastest cars in the world - Captain Eyston's Thunderbolt, with its Rolls Royce engines, and John Cobb's Napier Railton - are British, and of this all British motoring enthusiasts are duly proud. But what about fast cars generally speaking? Does any British car come readily to the mind when one speaks of them? The answer surely is "No", although the really expert will point to the success of the E.R.A. in events for cars of under 1,500 cc, and of the amazing speed accomplished by Major Goldie Gardner's 1,100 M.G. This, however, is not enough. Where speed is talked of, one thinks firstly probably of the German Mercedes-Benz and Auto-Union, then of the Italian Alfa-Romeo and Maserati and finally of the French Bugatti, Delahaye and Delage. Here are really fast cars that can be bought. They are not freaks like Thunderbolt or John Cobb's car, but purchasable in the market by anyone with the wish and money to buy them. Government Aid Lacking They are cars which can enter any Grand Prix or senior event in any country of Europe and be quite sure between them of carrying off first prize. Britain's lack of such speedy cars is without question due to the fact that the Government refuses steadfastly to provide the money to build such machines, and to the fact that, without Government support, no British manufacturer can afford to. One despairs now, particularly with the necessary raw material being used for armaments, of ever seeing a British car winning a Grand Prix race on the Continent, but one rejoices in the latest move of Rolls-Royce to produce a standard Bentley capable of trimming any other make of car on the road. We do not say on the track, because, as yet, there is no intention to build Bentleys or Rolls-Royces for racing. Although obviously more prestige is to be gained by a firm on the track, there is plenty of prestige to be gained on the new French national roads, Italian autostrada and German autobahnen. What a blow to the makers of the big French, Italian and and German firms to see a standard British car glide by at 120 m.p.h., carrying a | ||