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).
Test drive report detailing observations on a vehicle's suspension, steering, gearbox, and other features, with comparisons to other cars.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 127\2\ scan0013 | |
| Date | 31th August 1933 guessed | |
| -2- Mr. Mackintosh volunteered to run the car over Bishops Avenue, Hampstead, which he did at 38 m.p.h. and the riding was almost up to the merit of separately sprung wheels. At the higher speeds I did not find the springing objectionable, especially when the adjustable Hartford were screwed up. The steering struck me as being very good, but I should require more experience of the car on a dry road before confirming this. I have sundry literature about this car which I am proposing to show to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} and E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} to-morrow when in Derby. The gearbox has three speeds which I do not like, but otherwise it was good, of the synchro-mesh type, and having available a free-wheel at the option of the driver, which I think unnecessary. An amusing selling point on the car is that there are four shutters fitted on each side panel of the bonnet operated by a thermostat - one thermostat to each side. Actually I consider this provision unnecessary for I noticed that all the time yesterday when we were on the car, including lunchtime, the shutters were kept fairly wide open by the thermostat, which means that probably they should remain open all day long in the summer and remain closed in the winter which obviously would not require thermostat control. The induction silencer appeared to be as effective as in our own cars, whilst being about one-third the length. It was a new experience to me to drive a big American car without the hitherto characteristic roar by the carburetter when opened out. On Wednesday next, the 28th instant, I have arranged to reciprocate by giving Mr. Mackintosh a run in our Continental model, and Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} and Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} are going with me and this gentleman to see the Works at Dagenham. PN.{Mr Northey} | ||