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).
The puncturing of Bentley petrol tanks by stones and a successful protective modification.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 83\4\ scan0135 | |
| Date | 5th March 1936 | |
| 12649 To E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to Hdy.{William Hardy} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}14/JH.5.3.36. Bentley Petrol Tank. With the increased speed of the Bentley, the petrol tank is considerably more subject to being punctured on the leading underneath edge by stones. The last 10,000 mile car, B-56-BN{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} suffered in this respect, also during a few days running in France, the Vanvooren Bentley tank was punctured in the same way. The tank of B-56-BN{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} was repaired and protected by a small aluminium shield with felt between the tank and shield on the leading underneath edge only, approx. 4 inches wide. It was fastened on by strips of steel riveted to the guard and soldered to the tank. This guard was effective, and is light in construction. It ran 10,000 miles and definitely saved the tank from again being punctured. It is at present in RHC{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer}'s Department. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/G.W.Hancock. The tanks punctured were our standard gauge material! Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||