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).
Question and answer document regarding vehicle testing, alterations, and development timelines.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 65a\2\ scan0110 | |
| Date | 7th April 1925 | |
| contd :- -2- Question 3. What experience have we of alterations being necessary after new cars have been tested for 10,000 miles? For instance, what alterations have been made to the Phantom and the present 20 HP. after 10,000 miles. Have we any record of how long these alterations took before they were again tested and perfected? This is a very difficult question to reply to, one reason is that our design is never fixed, we are continually making improvements and alterations, secondly, experimental cars frequently start on a 10,000 miles test with certain parts fitted to them which are not as good as we should like, but it is considered desirable to start the test in order to get results on the rest of the chassis. Question 4. What have been our experiences in the past concerning the time taken to develop new designs from the time the first one has been made until they have proved satisfactory - for instance : (1) Front Wheel Brakes. The Company took the risk of announcing Front Wheel Brakes before any design work had been done and before we had had a single car running fitted with them. The announcement was made in Nov. 1923. The adopted scheme of F.W.B. started a 10,000 miles test in June 1924. In our opinion this is a wonderfully creditable performance, especially as there has been very little alteration to the brakes since they were standardised and it is recognised by all that no car possesses finer brakes. (2) 20 HP. Taking the figures given in CJ3/E7.4.25, we consider an interval of 8 months for designing, experimental development, production, testing and delivery for a car having 4-speed box, right-hand change, and 4-wheel brakes, is a very good effort. | ||