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).
Letter from customer Raymond Mays to Bentley Motors regarding performance issues with his new 4¼ litre Bentley.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 90\4\ scan0156 | |
| Date | 7th March 1938 | |
| COPY. March 7th, 1938. Raymond Mays, Eastgate House, Bourne, LINCOLNSHIRE. W.M.Cowen,Esq., Messrs.Bentley Motors,Ltd., London, W. Dear Mr.Cowen, I have now covered about 1800 miles in my new 4¼ litre Bentley, and I had hoped to spare the Car to go to Derby for three or four days, but unfortunately I have been terribly busy. However, the Car has gone to Derby to-day for the day, to have one or two small items attended to. When I can spare the Car for Derby, I also hope to be able to arrange for Park Ward to have the Car immediately afterwards to cure body rattles, squeaks etc. Up to now I must say I am not quite so satisfied with the Car as I was with my last Bentley, CLM{D. D. Clapham}-975. Although she is by no means at her best as regards performance owing to comparatively small mileage, the Car definitely does not perform as well as she should do - At the moment the maximum revs I can pull on top gear are 4000 - Even then the Car does not appear to attain these revs anything like so easily as my last Bentley, and the natural cruising speed seems to be at least 5/7 m.p.h. lower. I have done several long journeys recently, and I am trying to determine in my own mind exactly why the new Car does not seem quite so pleasant - The large section tyres make the road holding even better than the old Car, but I am wondering if they effect the performance in any way. At over 74 m.p.h. the Car appears to be considerably noisy and does not seem to like being driven quite so fast, and does not settle down to that beautiful free and easy silent gait which all Bentleys do. I feel that the large tyres are responsible for some of this noise, and after I have covered a few more hundred miles, I propose letting you have a detailed report of my opinions. I am wondering if it would be at all possible for you to loan me my old Car CLM.{D. D. Clapham}975. for say a week, for me to carry out accurate comparative tests over certain roads round here which I know very well. If you could possible manage this, it would certainly be very interesting from my own point of view, and p.t.o. | ||