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).
Feasibility and performance of fitting an Embericos-style body onto a Bentley B.5. Corniche chassis.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 97\3\ scan0074 | |
| Date | 21th March 1939 | |
| HODC To Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}.. from Da{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} c. By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} Sr. (Note: By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} and Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} are crossed out) c. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Swindon. c. M.Paulin. Da{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}25/N.21.3.39. Re: Bentley 5 "Corniche". Further to our Da{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}1/N.8.3.39, we have been occupied in putting a body exactly similar to that of the Embericos car on the B.5. Corniche type chassis. We find that with the seats so close coupled as they are in that body the deep wells for the rear seat passengers, possible on the present Bentley are essential if the seat is to be occupied even with cramped space. Unfortunately, such wells are not possible on the B.5. chassis due to the frame cross. If we obtain leg-room by moving backwards the rear seat, the latter has to go up over the frame upsweep, and the axle, and the roof follows, the result being an increased projected frontal area. Hence this is not possible. It does appear therefore that we cannot reproduce the Embericos body on the B.5, and we therefore welcome your suggestions that we should attempt to get the Bentley "Corniche" to equal the Embericos car in performance, i.e. to lap Montlhery at 110 M.P.H. We have deduced the hub horse power of the "Continental" B.5. engine from the power curve you gave us, using some figures given for the 3 port exhaust losses in Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}14/R.9.3.39, and allowing 94% for the mechanical efficiency of the transmission. Using the same data for the body as in our Da{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}1/N.8.3.39, we find that with the "Continental" engine the lap speed would be 110.5 M.P.H. If we could get an exhaust system with a maximum loss of 4 to 6 H.P. as you suggest, we should have a little more margin. We attach to Sr's copy a print of the Embericos body on the B.5. shewing the difficulties mentioned - (see PD.394). Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} | ||