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).
Steering test report for car 7.B.V. comparing its old geometry characteristics against the new geometry.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 97\5\ scan0342 | |
| Date | 27th April 1939 guessed | |
| H50a + H50 To Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/IMW.{Ivan M. Waller - Head of Chateauroux} STEERING TEST - 7.B.V. I took out 7.B.V. as instructed in order to gain a general impression of the characteristics of the old geometry. This car is a great deal better directionally than the present 'M' series, so that all criticisms should be accepted as relative to the new geometry, to which we have become accustomed. During a varied run of 50 miles I was aware of the wandering characteristics perhaps a dozen times and inconvenienced by them three times, twice on corners and once on the straight. The so called wandering takes the form of a sudden and unexpected dive and on each occasion accompanied a diagonal or one wheel bump. I have never at any time experienced a similar phenomenon with the new geometry on 8.B.V. or 9.B.V., whereas it frequently occurred on both these cars when fitted with the old geometry. In addition to the above I found 7.B.V. steering too heavy and difficult to get a gentle and progressive change of direction, particularly when being close to the side of a cambered road. I found 7.B.V. considerably more difficult to steer through narrow gaps. The steering feels a lot more rigid and direct, but I was able to derive no benefit from this and being accustomed to the lighter and more progressive steering on 8.B.V., found it objectionable and a lot more tiring to drive. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/IMW.{Ivan M. Waller - Head of Chateauroux} | ||