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).
Dynamometer and first road test report for 20/25HP Chassis GFT-43 for Lord Cholmondeley.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 47\3\ Scan221 | |
| Date | 29th September 1931 | |
| X4117 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from MX.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} Mx{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer}11/T29.9.31. 20/25HP Chassis GFT-43 - Lord Cholmondeley. We have just completed the dynamometer and first road test of this chassis. It will be remembered that one of the conditions of sale is that the complete car must attain a speed of 70 m.p.h. over the flying half mile on Brooklands track. With a Standard Test Body on a favourable level piece of road the mean maximum speed is 64.5 miles per hour. We have not at any time exceeded 65 miles per hour. There is a very definite improvement over the standard chassis in the acceleration from 10 to 60 m.p.h. at the same time the engine roughness is much more marked. The car has the following special features which have been recommended by Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} and agreed to by Sales:- High Compression Pistons. Special Exhaust System. Stronger Valve Springs. We have proved that the Exhaust System is not the limiting factor, as we have made a test with silencer end plate removed, giving a condition equivalent to cut out open, this did not increase the maximum speed. It would seem that we cannot get the "gas" into the engine. All the work done by the Experimental Dept. in increasing maximum speed has been carried out with the features before mentioned in conjunction with a 112° camshaft. When we found before the chassis came on test that the specification for this chassis did not include the camshaft, we took the matter up with Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} and he in turn got in touch with Sales. They could not see their contd- | ||