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).
Bentley chassis options, performance complaints, and reducing coachwork weights.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 82\4\ scan0314 | |
| Date | 4th June 1936 | |
| -2- In almost every case the requirements of the two types of owner are incompatible with each other. The only way to meet the case satisfactorily is to have a long and a short chassis and call one a Continental Bentley. We could then give the Continental owner all that he wants, and at the same time satisfy the ordinary owner. Actually the Bentley needs two chassis far more than the Ph.III, because in the case of the big car it has such a large engine that its performance can be and is outstandingly good without any limitations in seating capacity. There will be a certain amount of opposition from R.R. Conduit St.{Capt. P. R. Strong} to a Continental Bentley. Actually the work necessary has been done in preparing Hall's car for Le Mans and Ulster every year. I tried to raise the matter the last time Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} and Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} were up at the Works but Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} took up the attitude that there were never any complaints of poor performance on the Bentley. My own view is that had we not fortuitously been able to introduce the 4¼ litre - a fluke which will not occur again for a very long time - we should be right up against it with cheaper cars such as the S.S. Jaguar to-day. In contradiction of Cx{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager}'s remark, I see that there were 58 complaints of poor performance in the last Quarterly Complaints. It is really up to you, Tr.{Capt. F. W. Turner - Finance} and Sr. to put up a case to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} if you really think from the sales point of view that there is sufficient demand to justify a Continental and a standard Bentley chassis. Incidentally, whilst on the subject of performance, Sr. has produced a remarkable Bentley by taking infinite pains over the coachwork weights. The car complete scales less than 30½ cwts. and is quite the best Bentley I have ever sat in. I think that you ought to try and get Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} to allow the car to come over to England so that you can compare it with our standard Saloon and see whether there is anything to be learned. I think it is a great pity that in the Conduit Street organisation there is nobody who can give their undivided attention to coachwork weights. | ||