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).
Car performance, design philosophy, and comparisons to competitors.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\R\January1928-March1928\ 39 | |
| Date | 30th January 1928 guessed | |
| (2) BODY WORK. Shews the necessity of greater care, testing and standardising a good design when found. AUTOVAC. For some years I would not fit these for this and other reasons. Then we fitted a much larger tank and concluded that for all ordinary running it was alright. We are now fitting a vacuum pump so as to be independent of induction pipe pressures. SPEED. First of all, do not believe speedometers. It is quite the easiest and most satisfactory way to get a car to run fast, and I believe we have never tested a competitor's car except to find the high readings of the speedometer inaccurately high. BODY & WINGS. Also we have carefully examined the cars mentioned, and we would like to explain as follows:- There is an enormous difference in body and wings; to shew this we are at present building some cars with bodies and wings better suited for speed, and of lower appearance. COMPRESSION & CARBURATION. To enable our engines to pull on the top gear right down to the slowest speed we have always sacrificed some power at high speeds, and also through our accurate carburation at low engine revs. we have always used a lower compression than would otherwise be necessary, to avoid detonations and to retain a smooth pick up on opening the throttle full. In the car we hope Lord Curzon will shortly try we have overcome to a marked extent the disadvantages here mentioned without sacrificing the extremely valuable qualities which have been the success of our cars as a restful and luxurious carriage. We have no thought of making an ultra racing car such as the Bugatti, which would not be difficult to us. This Lord Curzon would see if he visited the Works, and saw and heard our RR. F.{Mr Friese} aero engine running at high speed and high compression, doing over 600 HP., but we can supply what we think the most enjoyable sports car which has ever been made, capable of running about London on top gear at 4 MPH., and also well over an honest 90 MPH. Our technical staff consider it would need over 200 HP. to get the RR. car tested by Lord Curzon up to 115 MPH., chiefly because of the air resistance of body, wings, and spare wheels, especially the wings, which are designed especially for cleanliness. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||