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, steering, and noise issues of a Bentley car after testing at Brooklands.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 3\4\ 04-page338 | |
| Date | 19th June 1933 | |
| To C. From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}2/MJ.19.6.33. Re. BENTLEY. Replying to C.15/C.15.6.33. We agree that the lap speed of the green car (No.2) on Brooklands is the worst of the four cars we have so far produced. Before we left Brooklands on Monday last we made one or two alterations which put the lap speed up 1.5 M.P.H. so that it was approximately 84 M.P.H. The alterations had been made to improve the acceleration at the expense of the top speed performance. It should be realised that the lap speed on Brooklands is never a condition under which the cars will be used. It is a very useful means of obtaining accurate technical results but it does not give the maximum speed of the car. For instance, the present 25 HP. car you are selling the maximum lap speed on Brooklands is 68 - 69 M.P.H. We know that on the road this would be considered very slow. We consider there should be no criticisms with a lap speed of 85 M.P.H., which will mean a maximum speed on the road of over 90 M.P.H. We should expect to use the exhaust cut-out to obtain these speeds. As regards the criticism of the steering, on the way back from Brooklands this car was driven by EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}, Ex., Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}, and myself and it was considered that the steering was quite satisfactory. It was thought that the front tyre pressures were unnecessarily hard but the steering was far away better than anything we have on any of our existing models. Re. the appearance at the front. We are busy preparing the modified shape of radiator. As regards the silence of the Bentley car we hold very strong views on this matter because we realise with the first criticism we have from a customer the car will be returned to Derby for us to make him satisfied. The engine noise of the Bentley car when standing is much worse than an Alvis, Ford, or the Bentley made by Bentley motors. We agree that the noise is not manifest from anyone riding in the car, but if a customer complained of it I should hate to have to tell him that that is the standard we expect. As regards the air silencer, it will only be a matter of a short time when a car without an air silencer will be considered out of date. They cost very little to produce, they weigh very little, and they do not have the least effect | ||