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 and impressions of a new car model, focusing on ride, handling, and performance.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 111\2\ scan0434 | |
| Date | 5th January 1941 | |
| Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c to BY/SB.{Mr Bull/Mr Bannister} c to BY/Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} BY.1/EIM.5.1.41. re 2 - B - 50. It has been an interesting experience to drive one of the more recent cars after a long period of being detached from chassis work and driving only a normally sprung Bentley and I think my reaction to one of the project types would prove of interest to you. First impressions of riding in the car as a passenger were very good, the ride was excellent particularly in the back and I rode some 120 miles to Crewe and back including the bad piece of road near Rudyard Lake without once leaving the seat. As a driver impressions were nearly as good. The steering was excellent, being firm and positive and having nothing of the feeling that someone had introduced a coil spring instead of a steering column, a feeling which I have had on past occasions. Special mention must be made of the brakes which were beautifully light and positive yet having enormous stopping powers giving one the impression when returning to a Standard 3 1/2 Litre Bentley of "My God, someone's disconnected the brakes." As far as the body went there was a perpetual feeling that one was driving a vast amount of motor car; this also being coupled with the fact that the car was overbodied. This was not very noticeable in road holding characteristics but more in the effect upon performance particularly on main road hills where one felt that the engine, which was beautifully unobtrusive, was having all its work cut out to maintain its speed, this was in evidence on hills approached at a speedometer reading of 45 or 50, the speed being too high to engage second gear in comfort. On the steeper class of hill, however, second gear was excellent. As far as gear box and transmission was concerned they left one with mixed feelings. The gear change was good and the rapid shift from bottom to second was very refreshing, but this cannot be said of the noise created by bottom gear which was characteristic of a lathe. - continued - | ||