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).
Test report and analysis of a 6-cylinder Bentley car, focusing on its suspension, power, and performance.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\P\2July1926-September1926\ Scan033 | |
| Date | 23th July 1926 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c.c. to BJ. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}✔ c.c. to RG.{Mr Rowledge} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer}✔ c.c. to DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} EY.✔ c.c. to PN.{Mr Northey} CWB. ORIGINAL Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}2/LG23.7.26. X8771 X3805 6-CYLINDER BENTLEY CAR. We have had an opportunity of testing a 6-cyl. Bentley car. The car was fitted with an open touring body. It had run 1300 miles. The appearance of the car is very good. This is partly obtained at the sacrifice ground clearance. We should say that the approximate ground clearance under the engine is 7". (1) SUSPENSION. The car was fitted with semi balloon tyres (6.75" section). It had double Hartford friction dampers front and rear. The springs were the Woodhead type with several leaves above the main plate. The riding at high speed was very good - at low speeds it was poor - the result was what one would anticipate. (2) POWER AND PERFORMANCE. We had been led to believe that the 6-cyl. Bentley had an exceptional performance. Taking into account the weight of the car and the gear ratio, the performance is nothing exceptional. We tried the car on our standard route for Phantom cars. The performance was approximately the same as we obtain on a average car. We attach an acceleration curve which we obtained which shows the performance to be similar to the Phantom. The max. speed would be approximately 75 m.p.h. which the owner confirmed. The engine was inclined to detonate at low speeds. contd:- | ||