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).
The weight of a Bentley chassis and body, its impact on coachwork, and luggage carrying methods.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 88\3\ scan0226 | |
| Date | 25th November 1936 | |
| - 2 - Sgl/KW25.11.36. to know how many gallons of petrol were in the tank when you took the weight which you say is over 35 cwts. If, as you say, the body of 3-B-IV weighs 10 cwts, 2 qrs 10 lbs and the weight of the car is over 35 cwts, this leaves a difference of 24 cwts 1 qr 18 lbs for the chassis with its equipment. Are you prepared to admit that the Bentley chassis is as heavy as that ? You will therefore judge from the foregoing how very important it is that any total weights given us must be accompanied by details of exactly what that weight includes. We should like to have such a detailed weight of 3-B-IV in its fully equipped state. We presume you will satisfy yourselves that there cannot possibly be any error in the accuracy of the weigh-bridge. The chart you attached to your memo is interesting but it does not seem much good to us to compare the weight of the present Bentleys with that of the original production cars because we know that the bodies on those early cars were not strong enough for the job, and whilst we got away with a very light total weight and good performance in consequence, our reputation suffered considerably because of the fact that the Bentley was considered to be fitted with inferior coachwork. We think it is as well known to you as it is to us that the Coachbuilders were not aware at the start of Bentley production how flexible the chassis was. We must try new designs from time to time, and it is only by so doing that we obtain facts re weights. This particular trial shows that we cannot standardise this type of body or luggage flap. In conclusion we would like to refer to your remark that the increase in weight due to the new method of carrying the luggage appears to you to be indefensible. An alternative method would probably be to support the tail platform by means of struts to the bumper or bumper brackets, as has been suggested in the case of R-R cars, but to do that you would apparently need to provide a bumper, which in itself adds (contd) | ||