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).
Comparing the performance of the new 6 1/2 Litre Bentley to the New Phantom.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 21\2\ Scan009 | |
| Date | 23th October 1925 | |
| X3805 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}4/LG231025 To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. to CJ. BJ. c. to RG.{Mr Rowledge} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} DY.{F R Danby} c. to PN.{Mr Northey} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} CWB. NEW 6½ LITRE BENTLEY. X8771 From details we have obtained of the new Bentley, we consider that this is the car which is likely to prove a very serious competitor as regards performance to the New PhantomCodename for PHANTOM I, after they have overcome the initial troubles with all new designs. Though the engine is only 6½ litres, it develops 140 B.HP. at 3000 r.p.m. so that it must be remarkably efficient. We have drawn a power curve as we should expect it to be compared with the present production New PhantomCodename for PHANTOM I. Quite apart from the engine efficiency, however, we should expect this car to have a remarkable low speed and hill climbing performance on account of its large displacement per ton mile. The car is geared 4.16 - 1 on top and with a closed Weyman body only weighs 2 tons. When compared with other well-known makes it is at once apparent that it has a very excellent power weight ratio. For equal engine efficiency its acceleration will be more than 30% better than that of the Phantom - its top gear hill climbing performance will be correspondingly superior. If we had no details of the H.P. curve we should have considered the car was probably under-geared. As it is, however, we know that at 72 m.p.h. the Bentley has contd :- | ||