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).
1400-mile road test of the 25-EX car in the United States, detailing performance and passenger comfort.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 11\3\ 03-page294 | |
| Date | 14th November 1930 | |
| To: R.{Sir Henry Royce} From: Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Cc- Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Re: 25-EX Car in United States We have completed 1400 miles running with 25-EX car. This includes a run of 1250 miles with Mr. Beaver and Mr. Ross. On this run we went to Boston, Portland Maine, Quebec and Montreal. All who have seen the car are very pleased with its appearance. They wish to follow the dimensions and lines of this body. It was for this reason I wired from Quebec for drawings to be sent on to Springfield. They are also interested in the body I have described to them which we have fitted on 26-EX car. Drawings of this body should also be sent on. The car has behaved very well. We have not had to touch anything. We took a driver with us which made a total of four passengers with light luggage. The roads we traveled were varied considerably. The main roads have very concrete surfaces, and on these, as one would expect, the riding was very good. We traveled over short stretches of dirt roads which were bad, but were taken at slow speeds. We also had miles of macadamized roads which had a poor surface and yet were quite safe for moderate speeds of 40 to 60 miles per hour. During this run for 1000 miles I sat in the back of the car. After this experience I am more than ever convinced that the only thing which matters to the rear passengers is the riding comfort. The rear passenger has no idea whether the engine has six or sixteen cylinders. The only thing that matters is how comfortable the car runs. (Continued) | ||