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).
Driver's report on vehicle performance issues including brakes, clutch, oil consumption, suspension, and a broken fender.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 47\3\ Scan306 | |
| Date | 23th December 1931 | |
| - 2 - N. Hives, Esq. 23.12.31. New Brakes. These are very effective indeed but not so "likeable" as the old ones. No adjustments proved necessary for the whole trip. The movement of the new brakes is not so progressive, more pressure is needed on the foot and the servo motor "snatch" is still very pronounced. It seems almost ungrateful to criticise such effective brakes as these but I would have liked to have kept the "feel" of the old ones with the efficiency of the new. In fact the old ones apart from requiring occasional adjustments and the noises they sometimes made were the best brakes. These brakes in common with the old ones, have one fault. At very low speeds, e.g. in traffic there is a distinct lag between the time the pedal goes down and the effect, and then when it does go down it pulls the car up with a snatch. This only applies to speeds of 5 m.p.h. or less, if one wants to pull up very suddenly and in a minimum distance. Clutch. The clutch is slipping but apparently is at the end of the adjustment. Oil Consumption. The engine has developed a terrific appetite for oil although admittedly I was driving it at full throttle most of the time. I was scrupulously careful of the oil pressure, water temperature and so on but otherwise did not spare the engine in any way. Nevertheless the measured oil consumption was no less than 2 litres per 100 miles, or 500 miles to the gallon. Is not this too high? I was using Wakefield's Castrol "XL" the only suitable oil available. Shock Absorbers. Too lightly set as you issued the car. I found improvement in taking these up, possibly they had worn or bedded in slightly. Rear Springs. Altogether excellent. I still managed to touch lightly on the chassis once or twice at high speeds on bad bumps but this was merely a question of careless driving. I do not consider they should be stiffened any further. Fender. The fender bracket broke again and it is really highly dangerous. Had I not noticed a slight rattle and alighted to ascertain the cause in a few moments it would have been under the chassis and the whole car would have been a total wreck to say nothing of possible personal consequences. I was obliged to tie it | ||