Test drive in a new six-cylinder Bentley, comparing its performance to the 'Phantom' model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 21\2\ Scan014 | |
| Date | 12th December 1925 | |
| PN {Mr Northey} 3/DN4.12.25. TO BJ c. to Ox FROM PN {Mr Northey} Yesterday, Mr. Walter Bentley gave me a run on an Open Touring car, the chassis being of their new six-cylinder type. The route taken was over Hampstead and up Brockley Hill. Unfortunately the chassis was apparently not representative of their standard production, it being old and experimental. Consequently I was not able to judge the car as a complete luxury car. The gearbox, also the control lever, tended to squeak; the axle was not quiet. These were matters which I understood were O.K. on production cars, and I shall have an opportunity a little later on of driving a complete car which Bently considers an example of their work. Meanwhile, I was able to form some opinion as to the performance of the engine, and can say at once that this is the first time I have ever sat behind any engine which could be described as of a Rolls-Royce type. In many respects I felt whilst on this car, that I should like to have had this same engine underneath the bonnet of a "Phantom" sometimes when giving trial runs. It was quiet, there was practically no vibration at any speed, and the acceleration was remarkably good at all speeds. I am aware that the axle gear-ratio is lower than in our own case, being approximately 1 - 4 instead of as in our case 1 - 3.47. Also the Bentley car weighed 2 tons against 2.8 tons in the case of our Open Touring car. The capacity of the Bentley engine is 6½ litres, whilst that of the "Phantom" engine is 7.66. The steering, which was very free from road shocks, was evidently of even a lower gear-ratio than in the case of our modified "Phantom" steering. I consider that the reduction was altogether too great, and I should be very sorry if the "Phantom" steering had to be reduced again in gear-ratio, for at present it is a very good compromise. P.N. | ||
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).