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).
Decision to stop fitting high compression cylinder heads on Bentley cars due to issues with roughness.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 27a\1\ Scan305 | |
| Date | 30th August 1935 | |
| Bentley Motors (1931) Ltd., Derby..................Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Gry.{Shadwell Grylls} Srl/Crn.30.8.35. [Handwritten]: GRY{Shadwell Grylls} [Circled] X1245 High compression cylinder head - Bentley. I have read over very carefully the contents of your memo. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Gry.{Shadwell Grylls}3/KW.28.8.35. I did in fact ring up "Tr{Capt. F. W. Turner - Finance}" to stop further cylinder heads coming over to be fitted to the chassis they were originally intended for. The reason I did this was to avoid unnecessary expense, in view of the fact that I feel satisfied that the extra performance gained by these high compression cylinder heads is not in keeping with the general roughness they produce, unless of course you give us some information which would enable us to reduce the pinking, which is the most objectionable part of the complaint. I have spoken to several Bentley owners who had voted for the H.C. head, and were prepared to pay quite a little money to get it, and after having been quite frank with them on the subject, they have all decided to remain with their cars as they are, rather than spoil them as they say, given that the extra power gained does not seem to them to be in keeping with the extra roughness gained ??? We have at present two of these H.C. heads over here, which can be used in case of need. I will be speaking to Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} about this matter when I see him to-morrow. Sr. [Signature] | ||