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).
Progress report on development and testing for the Bentley V, covering pistons, ride, tyres, wheels, and gearbox.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 161a\3\ scan0006 | |
| Date | 6th January 1939 | |
| -5- BY.1/G.6.1.39. BENTLEY V.{VIENNA} cont'd.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} PISTONS. question is certainly promising as a method of improving power without increasing the tendency to detonate. It also has the advantage of enabling us to use the same heads on Wraith as on Bentley V.{VIENNA} "RIDE" Experiments are in hand with tension shackles with the object of improving the 'ride' without resorting to increased spring movements which are detrimental to the appearance of a Sports car in its unloaded condition, in fact it was this aspect of the matter which caused so much criticism of the Bentley body recently from France. TYRES. Work has been in progress on skid pan testing, but the weather has held this up. The object of the tests is to check up on a new size of tyre, which has to be developed with sufficient silence and good cornering capacity. Among new tyres being tested are the Michelin 'Pilote' which has a considerable advantage in cornering. Incidentally a set of these has arrived in this country, and a further set will be fitted to 8.B.V. for part of its French test. In this connection we are working with Dunlops to endeavour to produce a counterpart of the Michelin 'Pilote'. The tyres are available at Derby, but the weather prevents us getting any tests. WHEELS. Experiments on discs for wire wheels have reached the stage at which final designs have been made, with the intention of trying these out on the next car that goes to France. GEARBOX. This has not yet been released for production. In case it should not be ready in time a design has been produced to enable an overdrive Wraith box which is at the moment being made, to be fitted to 7.B.V.; with the exception of the over-drive the box is similar to Wraith, the effect of the design has been to strengthen certain parts. | ||