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 adjustable shock absorbers on a Bentley test car.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 87\3\ scan0112 | |
| Date | 9th March 1934 | |
| X 242 To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Nor. c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to Ey. c. to Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to Hdy.{William Hardy} BENTLEY SHOCK ABSORBERS. The Bentley car which is at present running 10,000 miles is fitted with the Shock Absorbers which can be adjusted individually. The results are what we expect; that is, when maximum high speed is used the increased damping is a great advantage, but when the car is slowed down to go through towns etc., the riding in the hard position is terrible. We do not see how we can possibly expect customers in 1934 to tolerate having to pull the car to pieces to adjust the dampers. It is so absolutely unnecessary to tolerate this position. We have J-111 which has been running for two years and has completed 16,055 miles. This car is fitted with hand controlled shock absorbers which have not given a moment's trouble. The controls for them were supplied and fitted by Aerons. This control is a cable which one runs through a tube, which you can both pull and push. I favour it far more than a control which has a lot of rods and joints which eventually rattle and wear. This control is available immediately; there is no design work necessary. I think this is one of the points where we might welcome some assistance from the specialist. I think we can forget the idea that the Bentley Owner will tolerate out of date features; on the whole the Bentley buyers are more discriminating and have a far greater knowledge of motor cars than the Rolls-Royce owners. | ||