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).
Customer complaint letter detailing a dangerous braking defect that causes the car to swerve.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 85\1\ scan0161 | |
| Date | 30th July 1936 guessed | |
| -2- satisfactory. It was suggested uneven tyre pressure, or lack of balance on the front wheels, might be the cause. On the return of the car and since its return, I have driven possibly a thousand miles. I have found no trace of the trouble until last evening. On my road home last evening I was about to overtake a bus on a straight dry road. Just as I was about to overtake the bus I was doubtful if he was not going to pull out on me and applied the brakes lightly. The car immediately swerved to the left hand side; I got a considerable amount of vibration but not as bad as before, and it was only by a considerable effort that I was able to avert colliding with the back of the bus. Had I been passing cyclists or even pedestrians, it might easily have led to a fatal accident. What would have happened to the car and me, had I been travelling really hard, and I did not buy a Bentley to drive easily, or had the road been wet, I hesitate to think. I have handed the car in to Mr. Hughes this morning, and I know that he will do everything possible to see this thing put right. It would appear to me, however, that this is a very serious defect, a defect which I did not experience in the 1934 car nor in the 1935 Rolls which I had. I have not had a similar experience in any other of the 20 or 25 Rolls owned by the family. The car when handed to Mr. Hughes this morning still has the defect that there is a very considerable drag to the near side when one applies the brakes. I am afraid that as far as this particular chassis is concerned, my confidence is completely shaken. I await your comments. I am, dear Sirs, Yours faithfully, (Sgd.) Stanley Ballantine. | ||