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).
Bentley bearing performance, owner feedback, publicity from racing, and potential vehicle improvements.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 160\3\ scan0021 | |
| Date | 1st December 1938 guessed | |
| -2- Another point is that with a performance such as Bentley cars permit, it has been found that Bentleys have little difficulty in doing between 20,000 and 30,000 miles per year. Therefore, it seems rather a lot to expect them to pay for bearings renewable at 30,000 miles. I cannot believe that the bearings are so sensitive as all this in view of the fact that we have a number of cases where they stand up to very big mileages, such as Mr. Bank's car - 75,000 miles without the engine being taken down. I am attaching a list of Owners who have had bearing trouble to my knowledge during the months of October and November. This does not include those which have been carried out probably at "W". At the present time, therefore, it would seem to me that it would be unwise to write up about investigation into bearing, cylinder bore wear etc. as mentioned under heading No.1. As a further indication Owners, and Traders often joke regarding our Warning Notice and since we have introduced the Over-Drive, I have heard it said on many occasions that we have done this to save our bearings. I would like to support the view that the Tourist Trophy race which we entered for, was the best publicity we ever had. I was amazed how followers and Owners of Bentley cars enthused about the car's performance and this is still discussed from time to time by Owners. I am of the opinion that we should keep our Owner's and follower's interest with a few stunt performances, but nicely done, and I also think it is essential with the Bentley to keep the car up to date with improvements. Owing to its limited accommodation a car of this type to-day must necessarily be a man's hobby as well as a useful means of conveyance. The only principal improvement on the Bentley since the introduction of the 4¼-litre in 1936, is the Over-Drive gearbox and we have lost a good deal of sales attraction with this by the lack of synchromesh on second. Bly.{B. W. Bleaney - Bentley Sales} | ||