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).
Road test report giving impressions on the handling, performance, and build quality of a 'Rationalised Programme' car.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 98\5\ scan0243 | |
| Date | 23th April 1941 | |
| Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} BY.7/DG.23.4.41. 4oof re 12 - B - V.{VIENNA} It has been a most interesting experience to handle one of the Rationalised Programme of cars for the past week-end and below are given some impressions of the car generally. As far as road behaviour was concerned it was a delightful drive. The steering was light and positive and the brakes were excellent. On corners there was very little roll and one had the impression that the car possessed no tail whatsoever. On bad roads the ride was very flat and free from the particular up and down movement which is associated with the Wraith and Phantom III but on a rather switchback section taken at around 65 miles per hour one felt at times that a little more loading of the dampers would have been a benefit, this effect, however, only arose once during the whole period. There seemed to be very little difference in the wet roads than on dry roads and the run down from Muggington to Derby was taken between 50 and 60 miles an hour on all the turns and the majority of times with only one hand on the steering wheel as the car was so easy to control. Turning to road performance, this was generally good, one felt that 65 miles an hour was a comfortable figure at which to cruise and it was rather strange that this particular car appeared to be running very much faster than the normal Bentley at this speed and one was quite satisfied to cruise at this gait. The acceleration was good, top gear being excellent from the point of view of flexibility and it could almost be used as a traffic gear but if one cared to use second and third considerably, particularly good acceleration to 55 or 60 miles an hour was obtained. Above 70 in top, it tended to fall off quickly. The gear box was quite good, bottom exceptionally so although second and third tended to be a trifle noisy as compared with the Bentley II box, this difference is no doubt associated with isolation of the gear box from the chassis, the transmission was free from the vibrations which were experienced on other Bentley V's and Bentley 50, also the rear axle was completely silent. Turning to the coach work, this was excellent being entirely free from wing flutter and head lamp shimmy and was completely clear of rattles. My only complaint was that once when driving with a - continued - | ||