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).
Performance report of the 18EX car following a journey to Le Canadel, France.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 19\5\ Scan028 | |
| Date | 29th December 1929 | |
| WDR (crossed out) Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} (underlined) x7950. (H circled) 2/1/30 Restaurant Octobon., Le CanadelHenry Royce's French residence. Par Le Lavandou. (Var) France. 29.12.29 Mr Hives from Dodd. I thank you for your letter of the 23rd. With reference to my journey down France, and the performance of 18EX at Le CanadelHenry Royce's French residence. The trip down was smooth and uneventful. I met R, at Toulon mid-day on the Sunday as arranged. Below are a few criticism's of 18-EX. ENGINE. The slow running is excellent, never been better on any previous car at Le-Canadel. Up to the present mileage, 2,000; no signs of piston knocks, hot or cold, are evident. The extra oil is used always when starting engine up cold, until water temp reaches (50° - 60°C. Oil consumption is, I,456 average m.p.g. and although there are no signs of over oiling, the sparking plugs are damp and were fairly thickly coated with carbon after doing 1,000 miles. The valve "clatter" so predominate at 47-50, miles per hour, is not noticed on the roads about Le-Canadel; What we do get however, very badly, is the engine period at 20,M.P.H. It was noticed on the journey down, that although the speedometer when checked at Derby was 6% fast , the maximum speed obtainable on the straight French roads cut-out open was 84.m.p.h. contd, | ||