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).
Test drive and comparison of a Bentley Six-cylinder Saloon, noting steering and engine characteristics.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 21\2\ Scan060 | |
| Date | 29th June 1928 | |
| To BJ. from PN.{Mr Northey} c. to G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} c. to SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} c. to CHS. c. to HR. X3805 PN{Mr Northey}4/CP29.6.28. re. Bentley Six-cylinder Saloon. Yesterday I took this car, kindly lent by Colonel Hamilton, accompanied by CHS. to Cambridge where we were met by Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} with 16-EX (sister car to 15-EX). It was felt that our efforts at arriving at a true comparison of the relative merits of the Bentley steering and that of our own was not possible. The steering column on this Bentley tended to whip so hopelessly all the time and also the front wheels, in spite of having been balanced, tended to wobble between 68 miles per hour and 78, making it impossible to follow any other characteristic of the steering which might have been present. I cannot believe that this car represents the best Bentleys can do with the heavy type of car and tyres. Our car compared with it was tremendously good under same conditions of speed on bad surfaces. I understand that Colonel Hamilton is sending this Bentley Car to the makers in order that the axle shall be replaced - at present it is very noisy, and the steering wobble taken out of the wheels. It will be very interesting if we can have this car on our hands again after the work has been done in order to appreciate how far Bentleys do succeed in dealing with these points. On one occasion yesterday, I persevered with driving faster through the wobble in order to get past it, but at 81 miles per hour I did not find that it had disappeared and this sort of test with another make of car, the strength of which one may not have confidence in, is not much of a joy ride. The engine of this Bentley Car was remarkably free from torque re-action vibrations at all speeds, but in order to achieve this they have sacrificed what we consider most important, the torque being satisfactory at slow speeds. - 1 - | ||