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).
Road test report on a new Bentley model B.12.AW after 2000 kms of driving.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 146\5\ scan0302 | |
| Date | 2nd April 1940 | |
| All testers To Bentley Motors Ltd. Derby........... Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Levallois Sr.2/ET.2.4.1940 Dear Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}, It seems almost like peace time again to find my-self dictating a report on a motor car and I can assure you no-thing gives me more pleasure than to forget about aeroplanes and their numerous worries now and again. As you are already aware, I have just covered some 2000 Kms. odd with B.12.AW and the immediate impression is good. The car, as you know, is a 4/5 seater with spare wheel in front, a larger trunk than we have had on any previous Bentley, sunshine roof, all windows going up and down, bumpers at the front and rear, built in number plates at the rear, etc... The total weight of the car minus the tools and bonnet (this I did not know when I last wrote to you), but other-wise complete as above, with 10 litres of petrol, was 32 cwt. This, I feel sure you will agree, is good and it certainly can be felt in the driver's seat. The acceleration is excellent, better than any of our Bentleys. The top speed seems to be remarkable as it was pos-sible for me, on three occasions, to pass a non overdrive Bentley that was in very good trim and going flat out at 4400 revs. I passed this car with comparative ease and went sailing on. It is also better on acceleration than the aforementioned car, providing of course one is not in overdrive at low revs. The springing is really the cat's whiskers, and I prefer to say nothing at all about the road holding, which amazed even me. The petrol consumption worked out at about 17 1/2 litres per 100 Kms. The oil consumption was practically nil; over 2285 kms., only half a litre was required to top the needle. The car only slightly pinks on the French war time petrol (which is now known as "eau de Javel"), and is quite drivable providing one does not stamp hard on the accelerator. I am, however, up against the following troubles: A permanent groan coming from the front, which we have not yet been able to locate in spite of the fact that both shock absorbers were taken down and, to make certain, two others have been dismantled from another car and put on this. Inciden-tally Vic will be reporting to you on these shock absorbers, which seem to have been slapped up rather in a hurry. The ones the car was delivered with and with which I did my run were definitely down in poundage, especially forward left from the driver's seat, and since we have put the others on with more regular settings, the | ||