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).
Coachwork design comments for the Bentley 111, including the rear luggage boot and an electrically operated blind.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 98\2\ scan0023 | |
| Date | 1st October 1937 | |
| To Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} from DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} c.c. to HY.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} c.c. to DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. to Bm/ED.{J. L. Edwards} c. to Hn.{F. C. Honeyman - Retail orders} SECRET. 2008. 404 DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}5/G.1.10.37. RE: BENTLEY 111. 1-B-5. Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager}6/KW.30.9.37. We thank you for your comments of the design FD.{Frank Dodd - Bodies}20. for the coachwork of the above car. With respect to the body general outward shape - we understand that Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} is communicating with you on the subject. There are no chassis limitations to our building a body such as you propose. When the question of the rear luggage boot lid{A. J. Lidsey} was discussed by Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} HY.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} and Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} on viewing FD.{Frank Dodd - Bodies}20 at Derby, it was agreed that, to save weight, the lid{A. J. Lidsey} should not be made to carry luggage in the normal course, but in order that our project scheme should cover all contingences we have so arranged the design that it may be made to do so whenever it is desired to construct a body having that feature. Our 3-B-4 which has such lid{A. J. Lidsey} for carrying luggage is very tail heavy, and we see no immediate way of lightening the boot and lid{A. J. Lidsey} with the present cantilever lid{A. J. Lidsey} construction. A return to the original knuckle jointed link support would go a long way to reduce weight. We can introduce an electrically operated rear blind if it is desired. We have not fitted this accessory on experimental Bentley cars, as we understood that the motor and operating gear weighed approximately 5 lbs. We return herewith your print of FD.{Frank Dodd - Bodies}20, and would be glad to have your comments on our remarks. In the meantime, we suggest that Messrs. Park Wards be allowed to go ahead with the full size drawing to the original design, as the proposals under discussion can be incorporated ready even when it has been completed. We are anxious to give them no excuse for a late delivery. DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} | ||