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).
Report from Bourges, France, detailing road tests, fuel supply issues with the Autovac, and speedometer discrepancies on car 21EX.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 17\3\ Scan387 | |
| Date | 23th June 1929 | |
| HÔTEL D'ANGLETERRE CENTRAL CH. LE BIHAN PROPRIETAIRE BOURGES TÉLÉPHONE: 51 X7432 Sunday. Bourges. 23-6-29 To, Mr Hives. Expt Dept. R.R. Ltd. Dear Sir, Your letter dated 21-6-29 received at Folkestone on 22-6-29 per R.A.C. On my arrival at Conduit St on Friday, Mr Sidgreaves + Mr Norchey went out on 21EX and a Demonstration Phantom for comparative tests on the Welwyn Road. I did not hear any remarks concerning the 2 cars, but 21EX speedometer reads about 8 MPH SLOW running side by side with the Phantom at 40 MPH. I proceeded to Folkestone on Friday evening, and met P.N. at Boulogne on Saturday 1-0 pm. In Chateauroux, the petrol tank fuse was cleaned and all pipes blown through, but the trouble seems to be that at very high speeds, maintained, the supply of petrol from the petrol tank to the Autovac is inadequate, due to either a faulty Autovac or a faulty pump. The flow of petrol from the Autovac to carburetter was checked and and passed by Hancock as O.K. I drove the car from Chateauroux to Bourges, but the road was so bad that no high speeds were attained, and it was hardly fair to compare the steering with its performance on a good road, although it was much heavier and I thought more inclined to joggle. I will report further on these matters after our run to Grenoble tomorrow. Mileage on Saturday. 147 mls. " " Sunday. 190 " Petrol purchased Saturday. - tank empty 70 litres. " Sunday. 180." Will send report tomorrow. Gov Hyman 23-6-29 | ||