Riding quality issues with balloon tires, shock absorbers, and springs on Phantom and Silver Ghost models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 43\2\ Scan103 | |
| Date | 10th March 1926 | |
| Oy3-E-31026 -3- March 10, 1926 In a recent report on the R.R.hydraulic you imply that the possibly rougher riding with the hydraulics might be offset by the ability to use balloon tires. Our experience and I think the general experience here is that balloon tires increase the difficulty of obtaining good riding under the conditions stated above. The tendency to gallop is certainly much greater, and even with 6 ply 33x6-3/4" which carry 35 lbs. of air and are not really balloons, we have to increase our R.R.front shock absorbers from 30 lbs. to 50 lbs. to avoid galloping. Front brake cars. Am giving you our experience of the riding of these for what it may be worth. On the front brake Silver Ghost(1907 40/50 historic RAC 15,000 miles trial) the riding was distinctly inferior to the original type, but aroused little comment amongst owners. On the Phantom however, of which we have about 18 in service already we feel that we have ominous clouds ahead. Every owner so far, has complained of the riding almost immediately after delivery. We have already spent a great deal of time and money on these cars, making as many as three changes in the rear springs on one car in unsuccessful attempts to satisfy owners in New York. We now believe the front springs are almost entirely at fault but do not know what changes may be safely made in them to satisfy owners. We suggest that possibly the Service reports on riding would bear analysis. For example, we believe that complaints on Phantoms may be not so urgent because pride of ownership of a New Phantom(Codename for PHANTOM I) may for a time dull the edge of criticism. As regards the 20 hp., is it not possible that less is expected of these than of the large car? My impression is that R. {Sir Henry Royce} in April 1924 said that he would not come back from Le Cenadel by road on the little car because it naturally did not have the riding quality for such long trips. R.R.Shock Absorber We should be very grateful to receive further reports from you on springing and riding qualities. | ||
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).