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).
Wind tunnel tests on cars and the implications for Bentley streamline body designs.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 160\2\ scan0170 | |
| Date | 13th February 1934 | |
| TO SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} from EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} X4578 EV{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}3/13.2.34. COPY TO WGR. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} BN.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} RE WIND TUNNEL TESTS ON CARS. We presume that it is not intended to produce a batch of bodies of a design similar to that of the Expl. Streamline Bentley B.23.AE. Assuming this we feel that the information which we gained might be handed on to our coachbuilders and more especially to customers of the Bentley Chassis who are intending to buy such a body. Quite a few customers are having what they believe to be a body of low wind resistence and we feel that they are likely to be very disappointed should they ever go to the track and measure the actual maximum speed of the car because their designs may look speedy and yet not be so. We have seen an article in the Autocar on the reduction of the wind resistance of a car which we suggest is not wholely the result of scientific research, but is based on the popular conception of thestreamline or airflow shape. It does not agree with our own discoveries or those of the American or German researches. This article has been used in more than one instance as a source of reference in connection with a body for Bentley. If you are agreed we propose to read a paper on the subject before either the I.Mech.E. or the I. Auto. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} sometime during the year. The paper will not disclose the actual performance of the Bentley car but will give comparative figures, illustrating the effect of the various changes. We suggest that such information might be first distributed to our leading Bentley coachbuilders, and intending customers. EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} GRY{Shadwell Grylls} See me HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||