Test drive and assessment of a new 8-litre Bentley, comparing it to the Phantom II.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 21\2\ Scan072 | |
| Date | 14th November 1930 | |
| Sg. {Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} from PN. {Mr Northey} Copy to Gx. PN {Mr Northey} 4/WT14.11.30. After dealing with the Maharajah of Alwar's business at Brooklands on Wednesday I returned to London with Willie Bentley on one of his new 8-litre cars which have been so much talked about. I think I was more cheered up than otherwise as a result of my run. We did not touch any excessive speed; I think 73 m.p.h. was the highest and I have no doubt that the car is capable of running at 100 m.p.h. I noticed on the Kingston By-pass that there was a surprising amount of radiator "jellying" of the description we have suffered from with "Phantom II", and it was obvious that Bentley was very much concerned about this trouble with the car. The engine was quite reasonably free from vibration, but not entirely so before I noticed a boom of a very familiar type at about 52 m.p.h. on direct drive, but it was kept within bounds altogether more than we succeeded in our own engine. The axle gear was of the hypoid type and was not quiet, Bentley agreed he was well aware there was a noisy point at 40 m.p.h. The wheelbase of the car is 12 feet. I noticed there was more pitching when running along the Kingston By-pass than was either desirable or comfortable. The gearbox seemed reasonably good. The Servo operated brakes are of the Dewandre type. The four shock-absorbers are hydraulic. The car can be described as being quite a nice car but it is not as silent as our "Phantom II", speaking generally, but more silent in respect of periodic body booms. The chassis price is £1,850. I did not drive this car my self. I understand there are only two made, and this one certainly being experimental in respect of the instrument board, there being at least 5 gauges of sorts, which would not be on their standard car. (Sgd.) PN. {Mr Northey} | ||
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).