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).
Technical assessment of a vehicle's mechanical performance, covering engine, exhaust, steering, and suspension.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 128\1\ scan0061 | |
| Date | 1st October 1929 guessed | |
| -2- mechanical noise of the engine is marked when the car is standing, under ordinary running conditions it is not nearly so noticeable. This was a characteristic of the Bentley and Alfa Romeo, the other overhead camshaft cars we have tried. The worst feature of the valve gear was a period at about 30 m.p.h. on top gear. The Alfa Romeo couple the two camshafts together with a friction drive, presumably to deal with the same trouble. ENGINE PERIODS. The engine has typically straight eight characteristics. It did not appear unduly rough at any reasonable speed, probably assisted by the rubber engine mounting. It was commendably smooth on the over-run. EXHAUST SYSTEM. Consists of a very large manifold and silencer. The result is a most penetrating boom under power at all speeds. This would be quite intolerable in a closed car. STEERING Lifeless but selective and free from road reactions. Better than most we have tried on American cars. We suspect by the feel that it will suffer from shimmy as wear takes place. The pivots have ball bearing thrust races. The cross tube appears to be spring loaded. SUSPENSION Quite good. Firmer than most American cars due to the double acting hydraulics which the Americans appear | ||