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).
Secret internal memorandum discussing the feasibility of fitting a 'Vee' screen and American instrument board to a Bentley Comet.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 138\2\ scan0241 | |
| Date | 9th May 1940 | |
| SECRET. To Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} from Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} c. to Mr. Green. c. to Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/RC.{R. Childs} c. to Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/FD.{Frank Dodd - Bodies} c. to Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/HH. American Instrument Board and 'V' Screen Bentley Comet. We have been asked by Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} to make a preliminary project of fitting a Vee screen and an American Instrument Board to one of the first batch of production B.V. bodies, for use on an 8 cyl. Comet Chassis. The body is to be of the Park Ward light all steel and aluminium construction. It was thought that the addition of a 'Vee' screen would reduce the apparent length of the 8 cyl. bonnet and create a vehicle having better artistic balance in the side view. At the same time the Vee screen would permit the use of an American design of instrument board. On P.B.18 of which we enclose a print we outline our proposals. We could not make an acceptable design of body, without altering the existing standing saloon roof, back as far as the centre pillar at the same time increasing the screen slope to that of American models, so making new front doors. In any case a new scuttle would be required. The ease of entry to the front seat has not been altered. The fundamental practical disadvantage of this part of the scheme from the owners point of view is the moving of the screen glass about 3.500 ins. further from the drivers eyes, causing rain and dust on the screen to make oncoming headlights more disturbing at night, and fog driving more difficult. We shew two possible layouts of instrument board. In this connection we have an added difficulty to contend with over the American designers, in that we must having opening screens. All the examples of American cars | ||