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 advising against an engine upgrade, recommending a new chassis instead.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 89\2\ scan0168 | |
| Date | 23th April 1938 | |
| 2616 Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}10/R.{Sir Henry Royce} 23rd April, 1938. A.H.R. Fedden, Esq., The Bristol Aeroplane Company Ltd., Filton House, BRISTOL. Dear Fedden, Thank you for your letter of April 13th. I am afraid your suggestion of putting a 4¼-litre engine in your car which has now done 60,000 miles, does not appeal to me at all. The whole of the Bentley rear axle is only just up to the 4¼-litre engine; in fact we have made one or two modifications to cater for the increased torque. The same may be said of other parts of the transmission. It is practically certain, therefore, that you would have transmission trouble if we went forward with your suggestion. The best recommendation that I can make is that you take a new 4¼-litre chassis, and put your body on it, disposing of the 3½-litre chassis at the same time. Yours sincerely, | ||