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).
Customer complaint from Sir James Wilson regarding his car's performance and a subsequent demonstration.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 89\5\ scan0021 | |
| Date | 27th March 1939 | |
| 261 W/S To: C. c. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. LA{L. A. Archer} c. Hd.{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy} BY/SB.{Mr Bull/Mr Bannister}2/MG.27.3.39 B.74-MR - SIR JAMES WILSON BT.{Capt. J. S. Burt - Engineer} As arranged, I demonstrated this car to Sir James on Friday afternoon, the 24th inst., and discussed the complaint with him in detail. After having seen the conditions under which the car is driven, the reasons for Sir James's disappointment are very apparent. Stated briefly, his case is that he buys a Bentley because he expects to obtain superlative performance, by which he means that, being a Sports car, it should have a margin of superiority over most other cars, particularly in its capacity to accelerate by dropping into 3rd gear on a hilly or winding road so as to overtake or leave behind some competing rival. It is in this respect that he was most disappointed, although he now fully understands the reasons for it, namely, the heavy total weight of the car (36 Cwts) combined with gear ratios which are 12% higher than on his former cars. Unfortunately he does not in the least appreciate the other advantages of the over-drive gearbox, nor, to be perfectly honest, could one insist that such advantages are very apparent in Scotland. However, he is quite pleased with the amount of improvement effected by the high compression pistons, and it was possible to demonstrate the improvement quite positively on his favourite test hill which is only a few miles from his house. His previous cars would top this hill in 3rd gear at 60 m.p.h, whereas this car, before he sent it to Derby, would only reach 50 m.p.h. with an effort. With the H.C.pistons, the hill can now be taken at 55 m.p.h in 3rd, but the gear ratios are too high because the car was very nearly as fast in 2nd gear. The engine detonates freely and would not please everybody, but Sir James is quite tickled with it, and assumes that it is the outward and audible sign of maximum inward efficiency. The chauffeur has a store of pure benzol (continued) | ||