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).
Weight analysis comparing a steel-bodied Bentley with a Vanvooren-bodied car and a standard trials car.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 90\1\ Scan170 | |
| Date | 8th November 1935 | |
| To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} a Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} X263 HA/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}15/KW. 8.11.35. Steel Bodied Bentley. We have been analysing the weight of the steel bodied Bentley compared with the weight of the Vanvooren bodied car which we have and the weight of the standard Trials cars. These cars are not directly comparable because there are certain items in the chassis which differ slightly, also B-56-BN{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} has all steel wings and running boards, B-23-AE has steel front wings and aluminium rear wings. If we bring all the cars to the same standard, however, which for convenience we have assumed to be 'F' series chassis and the standard aluminium wing equipment, the weights of the 3 cars are as follows :- cwts. qrs. lbs. B-56-BN.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} Steel Bodied Park Ward Car 32 1 0 B-6-FB. Standard Park Ward Trials Car 33 0 6 B-23-AE. Vanvooren Bodied Car. 33 3 0 From this it will be seen that the present standard saloon is slightly over 3/4 cwt. heavier than the steel bodied car, and the Vanvooren is 1 1/4 cwts. heavier. Experience has shown us that it is a herculean task to get 3/4 cwt. off the chassis; in fact in spite of all our efforts 'F' series are about 50 lbs. heavier than the original Bentley. We think that the saving in weight is a very important advantage of the all-steel body. HA/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||