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 report on vehicle chassis 33-EX, detailing issues with the engine, clutch, and suspension.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 123\4\ scan0260 | |
| Date | 22th June 1936 | |
| X1042 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. to Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/FD.{Frank Dodd - Bodies} E.2/HP.22.6.36. re-33-EX. I did 355 miles during the week-end, a fair amount of which was done under London traffic conditions. The clutch appears to me to be quite good but is disguised by unevenness of pickup in the engine. This unevenness appears to be a carburetter fault, and for a short time after starting off there was continuous popping back. At the lower speeds the engine appears to continually misfire. This engine is generally not smooth, and there is a vibration of about 57 to 59 miles per hour. The petrol consumption worked out at barely 9 miles to the gallon, which is 1 mile worse than I have previously had on Phantom III. The clutch does not stop readily. The chassis suspension squeaks over donkey backs, and where large movements occur. Is this anything to do with the autolock mechanism? The front of 33-EX appears to be considerably raised, and the driving view may not now come as close as we originally thought to the standard which is likely to be called for by the Ministry of Transport. I should be interestedto know if the front springing has been set up to what we think is the correct position, or whether it is even higher. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} [signature] | ||