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 performance of an Isotta Fraschini car.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 22\2\ Scan023 | |
| Date | 12th July 1923 | |
| R.R. 105 A-(40 H) (SL 12 12-7-23). J.H., D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} -1- EXPERIMENTAL REPORT. Expl. No. 4609 REF:Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}4/LG5.11.23. ISOTTA FRASCHINI. Road wheel HP. curve. This is a poor curve for a car having a modern over-head valve engine of over 5½ litres capacity - its hill climbing suffers in consequence as demonstrated by comparison with a Goshawk on Piston Hill. The vibrations observed on the dynamometer are not noticeable on the road with the exception of that occurring at high speed, which can be brought up very easily at just over 40 m.p.h. on second gear. Acceleration. The performance of this car was affected in a marked manner by the exceptionally poor carburation at low speeds. This defect was all the more noticeable because it was very difficult to keep the engine warm in the standard condition of the radiator, there being no temperature control. The acceleration tests were carried out with the radiator well blanked up and the fan disconnected. Even so, up to 20 m.p.h., the carburation was not good, the car giving one the impression that the engine was not having a fair chance and was capable of a much better exhibition. Tractive resistance. This car is comparatively heavy, being about 5 cwts. more than a similar bodied 40/50 HP. In addition it has rather a more sporting outline than the 40/50 HP. R-R touring car. We think that these facts account for its tractive resistance in lbs. per ton. being low at high speeds where windage contd:- | ||