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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).
Multiple faults found on a Lancia car after a 1,200-mile test run.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 127\5\  scan0094
Date  24th February 1944
  
To Wym{G. Harold Whyman - Experimental Manager}/C.Lee.
c. Wym.{G. Harold Whyman - Experimental Manager}
c. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}

1076.

Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/MHR.{M. H. Rigby}8/DH.{D. Henderson - Showroom} 24.2.44.

L A N C I A.{Mr Adams}

This car has recently been at the agents in London for general overhaul, and one would expect it to be in good running order.

I have run it for most of the last 1,200 miles including 500 miles running-in. From the start the screenwipers had no motor fitted, and the starter motor only worked very occasionally. The switch for the lights had to be fixed after about 100 miles. Regarding the screenwipers, it was possible to manipulate these by hand, but eventually the lever came loose, and it was necessary to hang out of the window all the way back from York at less than 32°F.{Mr Friese}

The fan belt failed after about 800 miles, and there was a puncture about 100 miles later. Clearly a new belt should have been fitted at the overhaul, and the tyres are very bald and the side walls in one or two cases badly cracked.

The joint between exhaust pipe and manifold got loose after 900 miles and there was no tool on the car to cope with the bolts.

Carburation is bad low down, and this was annoying in convoy in the fog. The horn gave up at 1150 and also the direction indicators at about the same time.

On one or two occasions the left hand front door catch did not work. This can in fact be cured by banging the outside handle, but this was only discovered after mistakenly holding the door shut for many miles.

It will, of course, be argued that the muddy condition of the car on returning from "Eagle" in Yorkshire indicates the treatment to which the car has been subjected, but in point of fact all running was done on the roads, which for perhaps 50 miles of the running were as muddy as one could imagine.

Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/MHR.{M. H. Rigby}
[Signature]
  
  


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