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).
Translated letter discussing alterations to a Bentley car, proposing further modifications based on a patent, and offering the vehicle for trials.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 146\1\ scan0232 | |
| Date | 4th April 1938 | |
| TRANSLATED COPY 48 Bould. de la{L. A. Archer} Saussaye, NEUILLY S/Seine. 4th April 1938. FRANCO BRITTANIC AUTOS LTD. 42 Avenue George V, PARIS. Dear Sir, I am absolutely delighted with the first results of the alterations to my Bentley car, which you were able to try. It is needless to say that it is at your disposal and at the disposal of the technical department of Messrs Rolls-Royce for any trials that may be found necessary, and even I will let you have it the time required to send it to England, if those gentlemen wish to examine it thoroughly, it is simply a matter of your making arrangements to lend me a car while I am without one. Apart from the question of the principle of the suspension itself, there are certain things in my car which have not been done in an ideal fashion, but this is only because I did not wish the inventor to change too much the existing Bentley system. It will therefore be necessary for you to re-arrange certain things which are no longer right, such as the front break controls and the steering cross tube which is too low and must be lifted absolutely. I enclose the text of the French Patent, and ask you to note that the British Patent bears N°469.306. As I told you, I have purchased the license of this affair for England, and I should be very pleased to be able to start with Messrs ROLLS BENTLEY. Furthermore I am at your entire disposal for a more concrete and more complete practical study, this would mean include the application to the front axle finishing a specially made chassis and this would allow the lowering of the wide members of the chassis by about 12 cms. and of a second axle only as regards the rear suspension of the back axle in order to be able to slightly increase the body space with increasing the wheel base. You realise the importance of this for Bentley chassis, for not only could a Saloon body with separation be build on them, but also the rear floor could be made straight, without wells. We are at present studying this on the blue-print which you gave us, and it is for this purpose that I asked you to find me a second hand chassis in order to make these alterations. If your London people wished me to have two done at the same time, so that they could have one entirely to themselves, I am at your disposal to have the necessary parts prepared for two chassis. We could even come to an understanding so that the essential parts concerning this invention should be sent from Turin direct to London or Paris so that the adaptation could be made by your firm. I would ask you to communicate the contents of this letter to your Engineers in London, and would be obliged if you would let me know their suggestions. The inventor, at present, has made new improvements, and without touching the principle of independant wheels, he foresees manufacturing in series in a simpler way. He has obtained a patent for this and I am at your disposal to obtain the text of it if you desire it. Yours faithfully | ||