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).
Experimental Bentley body with improved ingress, dashboard modifications, and body construction options.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 84\1\ scan0425 | |
| Date | 7th April 1936 | |
| To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} from Ha/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to Hn.{F. C. Honeyman - Retail orders} x204 Ha/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}14/KW.7.4.36. Experimental Body having Improved Ingress to the Bentley Driving Seats. We should like to take immediate advantage of the decision made at the last Conference that the Bentley body with improved ingress should be proceeded with. We attach a print showing Park Ward's suggestions for dealing with the standard car. The question arises whether this modification ought to be incorporated with or without the wider dashboard. It appears to us that we ought to have the wider dashboard so that we can include all the known advantages in one move, as obviously it will be some time before an alteration to the existing steel body can be contemplated. With regard to the body construction, from the experimental point of view we should prefer this to be all steel, or Van den Plas. We have never had any success with composite bodies. The design for the 40" dashboard LeC.4827, has been completed. There would be nothing to prevent this body being fitted to a boxed-in frame should this prove to be a success. Ha/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Att: Print No. 10937. | ||