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).
Future of the Bentley, proposing a straight 8 engine, and addressing issues with Essex brakes.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 21\6\ Scan129 | |
| Date | 1st February 1934 | |
| - 3 - that our competitors will not stand still while we are producing our new chassis. It occurs to me that an important factor in the situation may be the future of the Bentley and here one feels there can be hardly any question that the Bentley must eventually become a straight 8 and if this is the case I suggest that we ought to design and produce experimentally both types of engines. We shall then be in a position to choose which ever type we decide is better for our 20/25 model using in any case a straight 8 with the Bentley suitably modified as regards compression ratio, valve gear, induction system etc. for its particular vocation. I see no reason why we should not deal with the design work on both of these types. With regard to the point you mention in connection with the Essex brakes, I believe these are of the Bendix self-serving type, and as such are open to the objection of extreme sensitiveness to any change in friction and adjustment with consequent effects on equalisation of one wheel and another. We will however make a close examination of this point if, and when the car returns to Derby. ATT: Copy of Memo E.3/HP.6.10.33. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} E.1/HP.9.10.33. | ||