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).
Confidential memo discussing the performance of the Bentley 8 litre and its threat to the Phantom II model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 137\4\ scan0192 | |
| Date | 1st February 1931 | |
| Secret and Confidential. X634 To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} re. P.II & Japan etc. Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}16/E5. 2.31. Copy to Directors. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Rg.{Mr Rowledge} Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} X.7770 X.5770. X.634. My dear R.{Sir Henry Royce}, Many thanks for your R1/M29.1.31, copies of which you sent to the Board. I have been very carefully into this matter. You will remember that I wrote you a few weeks ago and said that we were hearing more about the 8 litre Bentley than we liked. People who matter have told me that it is an extraordinary good car, that up to 40 miles an hour riding in it one could imagine one is in a RR and that beyond that speed it was superior to the Phantom II. There is not the slightest doubt that Bentleys' have for years been definitely out to capture our 40/50 market. They failed with their 6 1/2 litre but, not being daunted, they have come out with the 8 litre. Items numbered 1 - 4 in your memo. indicate that, for reasons you state, we must expect booming vibrations at high speeds with a 8 cylinder engine such as we have got in P.II, and you go on to say that "couples in 6 cylinder engines cannot be completely balanced and run at very high speeds, suggesting that 3000 is perhaps too fast for an engine of P.II size, and certainly 4000 is". This was of course written before you received Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}'s and E's reports after their trial on the Bentley 8, and which unhappily indicate quite clearly that, whilst they have the torque reaction at low speeds, they are extraordinarily free from the booming and vibrations at the higher speeds. It is the latter which probably has been doing our reputation the most harm and it is the point of which I have complained bitterly ever since we were first trying the P.II experimental cars in the spring and summer of 1928. It is what I then referred to as the "roar, noise or fuss." The reports referred to will also indicate quite clearly that we must not regard the 8 litre Bentley as just a sporting car. It is - again I use the word 'unhappily' - a very fine town carriage, capable of a wonderful road performance | ||