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).
Objections to increasing front braking on Bentley cars due to safety concerns with wheel lock-up.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 85\1\ scan0346 | |
| Date | 23th July 1937 | |
| W/S. Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}5/R.23.7.37. BENTLEY STOPPING DISTANCE. Cx{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager}15/KW.19.7.37. The primary reason why we object to more front braking on the Bentley car is because of the trouble we have had with jaggers, etc. We are clear of jaggers at present, but do not want to run into them again. The other side of the picture is, that we think that few things are more misleading with regard to general braking efficiency than the maximum stopping distance. As we have previously pointed out if we arrange a car for maximum stopping ability with the driver and one passenger in the front seat, then with four passengers and luggage, the front wheels would lock every time the brakes were applied, particularly on wet roads, and the car would be utterly dangerous to drive. It is so easy to fake brakes for the Motor Demonstration that we quite expect the majority of people do this. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||