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 report on a Bentley press run demonstrating the car's performance and economy.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 160\3\ scan0160 | |
| Date | 7th February 1939 | |
| 1379 SECRET. To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}11/MH.{M. Huckerby}7.2.39. BENTLEY PRESS RUN. The following Press men accompanied the car:- Mr. V.E.Morgan. Sports Editor, Reuter. Mr. J.F.Dugdale. Editorial, "The Autocar". Mr. J.G.Lefevre. "The Auto" and "La{L. A. Archer} Vie automobile". The object of the run was to demonstrate (1) That the "Paulin" Bentley was not a freak car requiring special fuel. (2) That it was just as satisfactory to drive in traffic and on ordinary roads as it was to handle on the Autobahn. (3) That it was absolutely reliable under continuous high speed driving conditions. (4) That it was phenomenally economical with regard to its petrol and oil consumption. (5) That it had a far better performance than any Sports car at present being sold to the public. The route followed was Paris, Metz, Ulm, Strasbourg, Paris. Amongst other points, the following were demonstrated:- (a) A petrol consumption of over 20 m.p.g. on the Autobahn at an average speed of 80 m.p.h. (b) An average of 60 m.p.h. over more than 100 miles of French roads. (c) An average of more than 110 m.p.h. for 5 minutes on the Autobahn. | ||