Motoring Notes
The Eight Litre Bentley
AT the recent Motor Show at Olympia, Bentley Motors, Ltd., produced a new chassis, which had the distinct ion of being the largest British six cylinder. That my recent trial run in this car was enjoyable was entirely due to the ear, for it rained incessantly throughout the run.
Messrs. Bentley only make the chassis, but they supply it either twelve or thirteen feet in length, so that it is suitable for any type of coachwork desired ; furthermore, a choice of gearing and other details is available to suit individual requirements. The price is 11,850.
Although no supercharger is fitted, this car is designed to attain a maxiniuni speed of 100 m.p.h. with a normally light saloon body. To retain a high factor of safety and case of control at such speeds necessitates the most careful attention to the construction of springs and steering ; to combine such powers of speed with flexibility on top gear at slow speed calls for a high degree of excellence in engine construction. This flexibility has been attained to a marked extent, and even with a top gear ratio of 31 to 1 the car answers well in traffic and on hills.
The six-cylinder engine (£45 tax) has an overhead- canishaft, and four valves to each cylinder (following the usual Bentley practice) ; twin S U carburettors, dual ignition (Bosch), a single-plate clutch, and four-speed right-handed gearbox. The four-wheel brakes are operated by a Dewandre servo
motor ; the springs are ; a 25-gallon fuel.tank is fitted, the consumption estimated to be about eleven miles per gallon. The weight of the chassis is 37 cwt., and the track is 4 ft. 8 ins. It is not yet possible to please every motorist, but there are, it seems to me, a few demands which most of us make on a modern car, and expect to have satisfied on an expensive one ; to my mind, these are three—namely, safety, speed and silence. First as regards silence, I consider the engine is very reason- ably quiet. There is none of that irritating drumming, nor is there valve clatter, or transmission huneto any noticeable extent. Generally speaking, the more efficient an engine, the more noisy it becomes, and makers are faced with the problem of making engines of reasonable size, having them more and more ellicient, and still keeping the noise down to the • • m Engine noise is one of the most important causes of fatigue on a long journey ; in this ease, however, one need have no cause to worry on that account. Many cars are advertised to-day as being the proud pos- sessors of what are called " Silent thirds ' ; this is adver- tising licence in which Messrs. Bentley do not indulge ; nevertheless, their gear-box is as deserving of that name as any other. Secondly as regards speed : although this car is capable of, and guaranteed to attain, approximately 100 miles per hour, this is not all that is required, for it must—to use an Army phrase—be able to "jump to it" on top gear as well as on the intermediate gears. In this respect this chassis comes up to expectation, and even a steep hill, with a third speed capable of some 75 miles per hour, presents no obstacle to maintaining a very high average.
Thirdly, as regards safety ; this calls for some forbearance in the matter of easy handling and springing' for instance, in order to have a quick and positive control at speed, the steering gear- ratio is perforce high ; in the car in question the steering is distinctly stiff and heavy when manoeuvring slowly ; this very fact becomes an asset when travelling fast. The springs, too, are on the hard side at slow speeds, in order to avoid rolling when cornering fast, and to hold the rear wheels close on the road. The brakes are excellent; this is as well, because a glance at the speedometer will generally come as a surprise, as one attains a. high speed without noticing it. In short, the behaviour of the car gives one a feeling of confidence, and of its ability to Maintain an exceptionally high average in safety.
Gear changing is not difficult, although the makers have not thought fit to incorporate any of the new devices which are now coming into favour for noiseless changing up or down. The position of the hand brake could be altered with advantage, as it is too close to the gear lever. From an owner driver's point of view, the car is quite up to date. Lubrication is carried out by a "one shot" system, with the exception of a few points, which points, however, require only occasional attention. The equipment is adequate, and the ear carries with it a five years' guarantee, which is n proof that the makers are prepared to stand by it, and arc confident of its lasting qualities. For anyone who requires a standard car, which, even with closed bodywork, is quite suitable for normal everyday use in this country. and which is also capable of a very high speed pt•rformance when called upon, I feel this new model Bentley can be recommended with confidence.
PELHAM COCHRANE.
Previous page
