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).
Insufficient space between the steering wheel and door on the Bentley III, with comparative dimensions for other models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 100\2\ scan0029 | |
| Date | 3rd February 1938 | |
| To Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} from Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} c. to Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} 2006 Da{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}1/N.3.2.38. 4.30 Bentley III - Steering Position. We have discovered on 1.B.5. that there is insufficient room between the steering wheel and the door to enable the latter to be closed from the driving seat by pulling on the interior door handle which is on the lock spindle. To do so might fracture the wrist on the steering wheel. This has come about because the steering column is 11.000 from the centre of the car as against 9.250 on the standard Bentley, and the wheel is .750" bigger in diameter, being Wraith III. We give below a table of body dimensions: Car No. Body. Width between inside of doors at base of steering. wheel. Distance of column from centre of car. Distance between rim of steering wheel and door finisher. B.III 1.B.5. Close Coupled Saloon. 48.000 11.000 3.000 P.III 39-EX. ditto 48.625 10.125 4.250 Wraith III 28-G-6 -ditto- 47.875 10.000 4.000 Wraith III 27-G-6 Four door Saloon. 48.000 10.000 4.250 Bentley 3-B-4 Close Coupled Saloon. 46.375 9.250 4.750 Continued.... | ||