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).
Test drive report and comparison of the Essex Terraplane 6.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 21\6\ Scan145 | |
| Date | 16th April 1934 | |
| HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} x4217 To E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} from Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Re Essex Terraplane 6. Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}2/E16.4.34 Copy to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}EX. C., Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager}, Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} and I have now all tried this car. It is an extraordinarily good example of a smooth and silent running engine and at the same time a car with great liveliness. The engine mounting is very interesting. All the vibrations seem to be absorbed by the rubber blocks. The change speed lever being attached to the engine unit shows them all and by just holding one's hand on the lever one can realise what is being absorbed in the way of vibrations by the rubber blocks instead of being transmitted to the frame and the whole car. It is regrettable to have to admit that the engine is definitely smoother than the 20/25 and just as silent throughout its range. I drove this car on Saturday afternoon and then drove my Phantom yesterday and I hate to say that the Phantom seemed a noisy, rough motor-car after the Terraplane! And the latter is a car of £350 in England including 33 and 1/3% duty! This car will probably be coming to Derby to-day or to-morrow and I do most sincerely hope that you and others concerned will study this question with a view to seeing how soon we can take advantage of its good features to help us with our present production, with which we know we have got to live for some time yet. The speedometer is unduly optimistic. I will send another note giving the particulars which Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} is getting out for me. The springing is amazing. I do not know how they get away with it. It is more like riding in a boat on a choppy sea than being in a motor-car as we know cars in England, but I am very anxious that we should not bother ourselves about its bad points but only its good ones. After you have all tried it, I should like to suggest that the engine should be taken out of the car, tested | ||