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).
The conditions for a 10,000-mile test, comparing France and Great Britain, and necessary vehicle modifications.
| Identifier | Morton\M11\ img223 | |
| Date | 8th September 1919 | |
| Contd. -3- EH2/LC1 8.9.19. ------------------ an Instruction Book with the alterations we suggest before we start on the test. We might also try some improved spare wheel carriers. It will be necessary to have a slightly different design of wheel carrier to suit the Michelin Disc Wheels. During the test we shall also try the over-size tyres and the ordinary size tyres on the rear wheels to see whether we can discover any ill effects. With reference to the conditions under which the car should be run for the 10,000 miles, originally, we believe it was intended that the 10,000 miles should be run in France. There is no doubt that 10,000 miles in France is a much more severe test than the same distance in England. The disadvantage in running the car in France is that it is difficult to have any supervision over the running of the car. We suggest we should get much better value out of the test if the car was run in Great Britain. We should then be able to judge the condition of the car at various stages and to know exactly when parts commenced to go wrong. The average roads in England now are very much worse than they were in 1914 so that it will more closely represent the French roads at that time. We could get the car run at Brooklands so as to get it going all out for some time. We should like to have Mr. Royce's suggestions as regards a body for this car. It was laid down that we must have an experimental car with an enclosed body; at the present time we have no such thing. Contd. | ||