Test report from Chateauroux, France, detailing issues with the car's progressive dampers, suspension, and steering.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 11\4\ 04-page199 | |
| Date | 4th February 1933 | |
| To MR. From GWH. {George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} Hotel de France, CHATEAUROUX(French test region), Indre, France. 19 EX. The car has run 237 miles since arriving at CHATEAUROUX(French test region). During this period we have taken off the Hartford shock dampers, dismantled the servo, fitted the bakerlite cap to the radiator mounting. Our impression of the progressive dampers are:- 1. MAXIMUM POSITION; When travelling through town at approximately 20 MPH. the rear of the car is insufficiently damped. The rear springs start their own period of oscillation, making it very uncomfortable in the rear seats. 2. On the open road the riding in the front is on the hard side. The steering becomes affected at 50 MPH; The wheel oscillating a full half turn. 3. With the maximum position travelling through town, the car rides very hard. On the open road it still rides hard at 50 MPH. Over this speed it is much better, but riding in the rear seats is not as smooth as it should be. The steering is selective, but one feels that the front is not checked sufficiently. 4. The springs on this car are too high rating. We require a softer springing; then increase the dampers. We are running the car daily and will send mileage etc. A full scale at different speeds is being obtained of the springing, with the control in maximum position. With reference to HsLES 6/MJ 3.2.33. the bolts broke whilst carrying the spare wheel. We are sending the broken pieces. The tyre fouling the damper arm is when on left lock. The damper is bolted on to a 3/16 plate on the frame side. This is not excessive. The trouble is slightly excess of look of wheels on that side. | ||
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).