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).
Methods for increasing high-speed performance, focusing on body modifications for the Phantom model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 29\3\ Scan179 | |
| Date | 27th October 1927 | |
| HIGH SPEED PERFORMANCE. We have previously indicated that the easiest way to obtain high speeds from a Rolls-Royce car is to pay attention to the design of body. We have given the speed of a normal touring Phantom car as 72 m.p.h. This is with the cutout closed and hood up. Actually a touring Phantom with hood down and cutout open will lap Brooklands track at slightly over 76 m.p.h., and under favourable conditions do the half mile at 78 m.p.h. If further increase in speed is desired, the following table indicates the performance that may be expected from the standard chassis by various body modifications. Naturally if a customer desires speed, a 16-tooth axle is almost imperative to enable full advantage to be taken of body modifications. We should say that it would be possible to attain a lap speed of over 85 m.p.h. if a customer was willing to pay sufficient attention to body design with a standard Phantom. It is quite clear that the simplest method of obtaining increased speed is to reduce the windage of the front wings by flaring or narrowing the section. Cycle type wings cannot be used on the Phantom as they spoil the steering lock if effective; and also promote high speed wobbles. We have included a figure which shews the effect of increased H.P. to indicate that this is by no means the main factor in increasing road speed. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||