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 an Australian owner to a company employee regarding the restoration of a 1934 Bentley.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 90a\3\ Scan006 | |
| Date | 25th October 1966 | |
| G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} Sandford-Morgan Esq. Box 869G, G.P.O. ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA. ROLLS-ROYCE OWNERS CLUB OF AUSTRALIA SOUTH AUSTRALIAN BRANCH Mr. C. W. Morton, Rolls-Royce Limited, Pym's Lane, CREWE, ENGLAND. 25th October 1966. Dear Mr. Morton, You may recall that we met in England some years ago, and subsequently corresponded once or twice on the subject of the 30 horsepower 1906 Rolls-Royce. As you know, my co-owner and I eventually decided it would be better for all concerned if we passed the restoration of the 30 horsepower over to Stanley Sears, subject to his agreeing that the car would revert to us at a pre-arranged price on his death, or by mutual agreement. However, this did not mean for a moment that I had lost interest in Rolls-Royce motor cars, and in fact am currently restoring my 1914 Silver Ghost Chassis No. 34LB. The purpose of this letter, however, is in relation to Bentleys, rather than Rolls-Royces, since it occurred to me that the vast amount of research which you have obviously put into Volume 1 of your magnificent book has probably by now extended to the Bentley era, and therefore you may be able to give me some guidance. Some little time ago I bought an early 1934 3½ Litre Bentley, Chassis No. B35BN{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington}, Engine No. H3BA, with the idea of using this for attending Club and similar functions after I had sold my Phantom 1 23CL, and was still in the midst of the restoration of the Ghost. While the Bentley ran very sweetly and was generally a pleasant car, the Barker saloon body was suffering somewhat from the ravages of time, and in general was the typical rather gloomy and uninspiring sports saloon body of the period. I therefore found myself attracted to the idea of removing the body completely and building a light close-coupled 4-seater touring body, both to improve performance and appearance, and also to make the car more suitable to our normally sunny weather conditions. The general result has been most satisfactory, and I am really delighted with the way this conversion has turned out. | ||