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).
The road performance and general impression of a car, including a timed hill climb test on Brockley Hill.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\N\2October1925-December1925\ Scan319 | |
| Date | 1st December 1925 | |
| -4- ROAD PERFORMANCE OF CAR. The liveliness of this car is a great advance on anything that has previously been produced by the Daimler Co. Its low speed acceleration was very good indeed, being of the same order as that of the Phantom. The engine is rougher than a 20 HP. RR. up to 45 m.p.h. but only slightly so. Above this speed a vibration commences which becomes really objectionable, at 50 m.p.h. and above this speed the car is quite unpleasant to drive. The max: speed attained on the level was 58 m.p.h. One cannot imagine this speed being maintained for any length of time without something happening to the bearings, the general vibration being most noticeable. The prevailing impression when driving the car at high speed is that it is under-geared. We conducted the standard test on Brockley Hill. The results were as follows :- Start 10 m.p.h. ) Max. 42 m.p.h. ) Time 47 secs. Finish 33 m.p.h. ) The speedometer on the Daimler was such that it did not permit acceleration figures being taken with any hope of accuracy The test was repeated to check the time. GENERAL IMPRESSION. Daimlers have succeeded in considerably improving the performance of their car, but at the expense of smooth running and absence of vibration. We consider that very little could be learnt from the car with the exception of how to obtain power from a sleeve-valve engine and lubricate adequately without over-oiling. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/W. A.{Mr Adams} Robotham. | ||