Car's speed performance discrepancy following a published article and a speedometer change.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 19\1\ Scan094 | |
| Date | 17th April 1931 | |
| 87120. URGENT. Cx {Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} 10/KW17.4.31. S/W. {Sales / Derby Works} Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} --> to Mac. {Mr Macintosh} Re- 26-MX. {John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} I enclose copy of a re-print from "Britannia and Eve" arising out of a run by the Earl of Cardigan on this car. You will notice the references to the speed of this car. I understand that in a recent trial given on Brooklands the maximum speed attainable was between 83 and 84 m.p.h. only, but I also understand that not long ago the speedometer was changed from the original 90 m.p.h. instrument to one registering up to 100 m.p.h. I wonder if you can tell me whether it is definitely known with what degree of accuracy this instrument is now registering, or whether it is likely that the performance of the car has in any way deteriorated since it was put on the road. The position is certainly a little delicate at the moment, because customers who read this article - and I may add that this leaflet has been widely distributed - have been led to suppose from it that the car would at least show a speed of 90 m.p.h., and the original speedometer on this car did in fact reach 90, which was the limit of its reading. I would like your early reply on this matter, and for you to send a copy of your reply to PN {Mr Northey} because I may be away a good deal next week by reason of having to serve on a Jury. Meantime we want to get this question cleared up, so as to avoid disappointing customers with this car's performance. Enc. Cx. {Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} [STAMP: RECEIVED 1931 APR 18 HS {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} ] | ||
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).