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).
Performance of the Peregrine model, including comparisons, and component considerations for gearboxes and damper control.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 179b\1\ img247 | |
| Date | 23th December 1932 | |
| HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} Copy to SS.{S. Smith} Wont, HH, BK{A. Birkett - Commercial Manager}, DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}, HJW. R3/W20.12.32. Sent off 23.12.32 8407. PEREGRINE PERFORMANCE. I think your memos., and GWH{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}'s remarks, are quite good, and explain the matter very thoroughly. You will see that in some ways the Peregrine is the least like a RR. car, and naturally we should expect this smaller model to have the characteristics that you point out. As far as the general use of RR. cars goes the HP. at very high engine speeds has never shewn up to be of much real value. Fortunately our cars as used, admired, and enjoyed, have never depended upon that feature, and should it spoil the car in any way at more moderate engine speeds then it would not be worth adopting. My impression is however that we have not lost much, but that we may do if we are not very careful. Concerning Bensport, the matter is entirely different, but I fear that giving this chassis the best engine we have ever made, gives to the Bentley reputation something that should have been used for RR. reputation, the latter being so much more valuable and important to the RR. Co. We should all be expecting that the Bensport with large engine and light chassis of low wind resistance, will give not only a better performance, but be more charming to drive than our somewhat overloaded 25HP., and somewhat fussy Peregrine. This is to be regretted, and I hope will be an inducement for us to push on with the J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} 3. chassis, which should give the 25HP. a much better chance of holding its own. Regarding the gearboxes it would seem that you are wishing us to convert them all to the silent 2nd., without synchro mesh on this gear, and that you will be satisfied if the free gear and jaw clutch are on the layshaft. This is the way you originally suggested, and is the only way that we can do it in reasonable time with reasonable alterations. There will be four boxes to convert, one of which is nearing completion. Regarding damper control, I am not in favour of fitting this to Peregrine until we are sure we need it, and after it has been fitted to the Phantom, which I strongly agree should be its first application, then on to the 25HP., and afterwards to the two smaller models. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||