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).
Experimental car testing, component reliability, and market competition.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 114\1\ scan0178 | |
| Date | 13th March 1939 | |
| Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Br.1/13.3.39. still be on the right side. 5. If once we put wire wheels on B5 we shall have a tough time getting them off. 6. From our experience of Experimental Cars running in France, we have no fear of getting the semi-floater reliable by the time cars have to go to the customer. It should be remembered that until 6B4 returned from France, no Bentley had ever completed a standardisation test of 15,000 miles without bearing failure. Your big ends ran 50,000 miles. This should indicate the nature of the continental test. Apart from all this, if we are to have troubles we want to get them on 300 B5 and not on 1000 B50. We do not however, anticipate any troubles. We cannot force Sales to take advantage of our efforts until we give them a chassis at the right price. We fear we may take so long that Humbers and Rovers will have the market. We dont want to be able to sit back and say we will get the semi-floater right, but as we have the fully floater to fall back on there is no need to hurry. | ||