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).
The performance and characteristics of an Oldsmobile car after a 2700-mile road test.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 126\1\ scan0038 | |
| Date | 10th September 1937 | |
| [Handwritten] Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Not bad for a car costing £160 in U.S.A 1062 Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} I agree the report shows in every way B.Y [Typed] To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} and Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} C. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} E.1/HP.10.9.37. The Oldsmobile Abroad. A brief report on the above may be of interest. This run of 2700 miles carried out under normal touring conditions over a period of 3 weeks in four different continental countries under widely varying temperatures and altitudes, and on every conceivable kind of road must be very revealing of a car's true character, and it must be admitted that the Oldsmobile has acquitted itself very creditably, and more particularly so bearing in mind the initial cost of the vehicle. To my mind it is an example of the advantages of mass production. There is no failure of any sort to record except inability to start at Southampton due to low battery level, and where serious criticism can be offered it is mostly on account of conditions which do not arise and are not experienced in the United States. The main exception to the latter statement was the way in which the car's performance was very much affected at 7000 miles due to pronounced detonation which occurred evenly over a wide speed range from 40 to 70 m.p.h. even on No.1 fuel in England. As the compression ratio is not unduly high on the Oldsmobile engine (6.1/1) it is difficult to see why the engine should be particularly sensitive. The oil consumption was very low only 3 litres being used for the period, equivalent to 4000 miles per gallon. The car was never driven really hard except on one occasion and oil and air*temperatures never exceeded 80º C and 70ºC respectively and on the average remained at 70º and 55º. [Handwritten] *under bonnet | ||