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).
The performance of a Bentley after a 9,000-mile trip through Europe, detailing issues with gearing, suspension, steering, and brakes.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 90\2\ scan0045 | |
| Date | 27th September 1934 | |
| C O P Y. Iliffe & Sons, Ltd., Dorset House, Stamford Street, S.E.1. 27th September 1934. W.M. Cowen, Esq., Messrs. Bentley Motors (1931) Ltd., Conduit Street, London. W.1. Dear Mr. Cowen, Some years ago I sent you a report on my 25 h.p. Rolls-Royce subsequent to a trip abroad and Derby seemed to appreciate it. Accordingly I am sending a few notes upon my Bentley which has now covered over 9,000 miles including 2500 miles on a recent trip through France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy - you have the photographs. Generally, the car behaved magnificently, and though I have the high gear ratio, no Alpine Pass proved really difficult even with a full load and only once or twice was the low gear used save for starting. The springing is rather soft at the back for full load and luggage, and having bumped once or twice our speed was kept down. The front springing is perfect, while the oil in the shock absorbers is (presumably) cool and thick, but after fast running in hot weather the front becomes light and wheel patter is noticeable. A means of adjustment would obviously correct this. Curiously, too, the steering varies in its ease of operation for no cause I can trace, and furthermore, I can assert that the brakes vary in their effectiveness. The two latter experiences may be explained by varying shock absorber action. Generally, the car steers well at all speeds and holds the road well on flat surfaces, but cambered roads definitely "pull". The brakes, for all ordinary purposes, are up to their task, notwithstanding constant criticisms of the small size of the brake drums, but I found in the Alps that long mountain descents (using the same gear downward that I had used to ascend) caused the footbrakes to heat up considerably, and smoke and smell was caused, after only three miles in one case, to the nearside back brake. The heat had caused the oil to exude through the small escape holes, and the smell fortunately forewarned me before the brake heated further. This is my third experience in four years of heating up R-R brakes on the mountain passes of France and Italy, and I do not abuse, though | ||