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).
Performance review and comparison of a 5 Litre Mercedes Car.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 22\5\ Scan168 | |
| Date | 2nd December 1935 | |
| To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} & Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to C. c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to Ely. X1080 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson}3/KW.2.12.35. 5 Litre Mercedes Car. Ld. arranged for us to have one of these cars for 2 days. It is exactly similar in specification to one I tried at the Paris Motor show 2 years ago. It is presumably intended to appeal to the Bentley clientele. The general impression left by the car is almost exactly the same as it was 2 years ago. Its performance without the supercharger is very moderate. To bring the supercharger into action a very considerable physical effort is required, and this has to be maintained all the time the supercharger is in operation. The blower makes a terrible noise, quite intolerable in 1935. The performance with the supercharger in operation is certainly very good, better than any of our cars. The top speed is about 95 m.p.h. The brakes are quite effective, but if applied hard on an uneven surface, axle jaggers ensue. The road holding is not as good as the Bentley. This applies to cornering in particular. The suspension is comfortable on a good road; the car has far too little damping for bad roads, and also behaves like a blancmange, due presumably to frame weakness. The Maybach gearbox does not compare with our synchromesh. The car detonates unless a mixture containing more than 50% of Benzol is used. The consumption is poor. The car, which was fitted with a light cloth top, close coupled, 4-seater body, weighed 49 cwts. We understand that the owner of this car prefers it to a Bentley. Had one not heard of this specific case, one would not have thought it possible. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson} | ||