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).
Road test and comparison of an Isotta Fraschini 'Straight 8' car.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 22\2\ Scan011 | |
| Date | 24th December 1920 | |
| COPY OF REPORT TO BJ. FROM CX.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} 24th December 1920. (CXO) X1072 ? I had an opportunity while in Brussels of trying the "straight 8" Isotta Fraschini car. I also drove the car myself for about half-an-hour. Generally speaking the car, to my mind, is a disappointing performer. The springing, for a high-class car, is abominable. The brakes, which work on all four wheels at once, did not strike me as being exceptional and I believe that the Rolls-Royce could pull up in the same distance. The steering was about three times as heavy as a Rolls-Royce. The engine was full of noises, but in fairness to the car, I must add that it was being driven for 100,000 kilometres without any adjustments, and at the time of my trial had already done about 80,000 kilometres, so that it was obviously not a fair test. The engine misfired at very slow speeds and had two very noisy tappets, which certainly could have been rectified, but the driver in charge, Foresti, had strict orders not to touch anything unless it was absolutely essential. The engine appeared to be powerful without unduly showing it, although I should say it was rougher than our high compression engine. It is, of course, smaller than ours, having a bore of only 85 m/m, but it picked up speed remarkably well and attained 100 kilometres an hour with very little effort. They offered to grant us the license for the manufac-ture of front wheel brakes for our chassis, under royalty and gave me the attached booklet dealing with these brakes, which the Works might like to see. Judging from the chassis that I tried, we have nothing to fear from this car. (Sgd.) L.W.C. | ||