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).
Serious steering control failure on the Phantom II test car (40/50 - 28-EX) following heavy braking.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 11\5\ 05-page152 | |
Date | 4th September 1934 | |
Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} v7941 To Wmr. from Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} re 10,000 Miles Test Car - Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}5/E4.9.34 Copy to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} 40/50 - 28-EX. Referring to the above, i.e. the P.II running with rubber engine mounting, I notice XXXX in the report just received dated 29th August a very serious trouble which reads as follows: Steering. Steering got out of control after heavy braking at 60 m.p.h. Front of car tramped violently, frame sides too weak with loss of engine support. In view of this I naturally wonder whether the right thing to do is not to recall the car as, even if the test is completed satisfactorily in other respects, we surely would not wish to put the car into production with a trouble of this sort in existence. I should be glad if you would consult with E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} and Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} with a view to obtaining their views to see what can be done to stiffen up the frame to overcome this trouble. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} | ||