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).
Article from The Autocar magazine detailing the prototype Bentley Mark V (B5) 4 1/4-litre model, which was put on hold due to the war.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 160\5\ scan0022 | |
| Date | 1st November 1940 | |
| November 1st, 1940. The Autocar 437 Bentley of the Future Although Production is Not Possible at the Present Time, an Improved 4 1/4-litre Model is in Existence, and Has Been Tried by "The Autocar" EVERYONE realises something of the tremendous debt that this country owes to the Rolls-Royce organisation in regard to aero engine production for the R.A.F. The whole story can only be told at a later date. Alas, production of cars had to be set aside on the outbreak of war, and the firm's energies are now concentrated on aero engines. Only in a technical sense is the development of cars not entirely forgotten. Although from the commencement of the war the ordinary production of Rolls-Royce Bentley cars ceased, plans had matured, but had not hitherto been revealed, for an improved edition of the 4 1/4-litre Bentley. B5 was its designation, and most intriguing features are embodied in its design. A few examples had been completed, in fact. A production line of the new type was abruptly interrupted by the incidence of war, and the chassis remain uncompleted in store. The forerunners of the type are undergoing extensive tests on national duty, and it has been the privilege of The Autocar to sample the new type, but there is, of course, no possibility of its being available in the ordinary way to the public yet. To anyone possessing intimate knowledge of the preceding models of the 4 1/4-litre Bentley it has been an intriguing experience. Already it was a chassis that approached perfection in the balance struck between very high performance and refinement and comfort, backed up by the most delicate and sensitive controls that any car, along with its companion, the Rolls-Royce, has ever had. Of the latest car it is no facile praise to observe that the engineers responsible have made a great advance. It is even silkier, even quieter, even lighter and more responsive in the controls, and notably more comfortable in its travel than its predecessor, fine and outstanding car though that was. The Mark V has independent front-wheel suspension as the biggest and most obvious change. The system adopted is not that applied to the R.R. Phantom III and the Wraith, the coil springs it embodies being unenclosed. As to practical results, this new suspension does not simply make the car ride even more comfortably from the point of view of road shocks being absorbed; it has direct bearing upon the whole control and upon the stability and the steering characteristics. Perhaps most important of all, it allows a still wider latitude between a "soft ride" with maximum comfort and little or no roll at low speeds and tautness for safe, stable driving at highest speed. Naturally, the riding control, consisting of a lever in the centre of the steering wheel, is retained, this enabling the hydraulic shock absorbers on the back axle to be stiffened up or slackened off instantly in keeping with road conditions. [Image caption] New position of the right-hand gear and brake levers, providing more room for entry and exit by the driver. | ||