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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).
Comparing the performance, consumption, and build of a Lagonda car against potential Bentley models.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 144\4\  scan0079
Date  25th April 1940
  
<s>S.V. and Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}</s>
c.c. Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}

file 1104

Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}11/ML.25.4.40.

LAGONDA.

You will be trying the Lagonda this week-end.

Presumably this represents an average example of the type of car they are selling. We have, of course, two 8-cylinder cars which are potentially Bentley production models.

One is the Comet, which has a standard B.V. body, and the other the Cresta which you used at Easter. The Cresta is of course ridiculously heavy; however it is almost exactly the same weight as the Lagonda.

We attach a table Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} has made showing how the Lagonda body dimensions compare with those of these two cars. In spite of the fact that the Lagonda is 16% lower-geared than our corresponding cars on direct, it is completely outclassed with regard to performance.

As an example, it takes 6½ seconds longer to get from 20 to 60 than the Comet. Since a car travels 5.½ times it's own length per second at 60 m.p.h. the Comet was about 35 lengths ahead after accelerating to 60. It gained a further 4 seconds between 60 and 80.

The consumption is also in favour of the Bentley. We cannot believe that Lagonda's will remain in business very long after the 8-cylinder Bentley is put on the market.

The flimsy attachment of the boot lid{A. J. Lidsey} hinge and panel on which the number plate is fixed are worthy of attention.

Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}
  
  


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