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 steering performance of a Phantom Trials Sedanca, chassis 81-RP, after a drive to Cambridge.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 68\1\ scan0071 | |
| Date | 12th June 1928 | |
| S/W Copy to HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} X8430 BJ. Copy to CWB. PN.{Mr Northey}3/WT12.6.28. PHANTOM TRIALS SEDANCA. Chassis 81-RP. On driving this car to Cambridge and back on Friday last, where it was able to be very prominently in the public view, and also a number of persons took an interest in sitting in it etc, I was able to form the opinion that the steering control of this car was probably the most satisfactory steering that I have ever had in my hands on a Rolls-Royce "Phantom" or "Silver Ghost" under the circumstances. The selectivity was good, there was not undue shock to the driver, in fact I could describe the steering as being very nearly perfect at all speeds up to 75 miles an hour, which we were able to run on the new by-pass motor roads. If it were not for one's experience with the use of such cars on Continental roads, where these very high speeds can be run with safety from the point of view of other users, but the difference is that the road surface is comparatively bad, one might feel satisfied that we had reached a remarkably satisfactory stage with our steering control. This of course only tends to confirm what we already know, that testing and running cars in this country gives a very small indication only of the sort of steering control required when motoring on the Continent. I wish I had an opportunity of finding out in practice how the steering of this car behaves on other than good English roads, in order to make sure whether this car happens to be unusually good in this respect or not. PN.{Mr Northey} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Copy sent at "B.J's" request. | ||