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).
Report, on hotel letterhead, detailing a road accident involving a Phantom III experimental car (38 EX) and a horse.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 113\4\ scan0061 | |
Date | 28th January 1937 | |
Hôtel du Grand Monarque Ch. DOZIAS PROPRIÉTAIRE LAMOTTE-BEUVRON (Loir-&-Cher) TÉLÉPHONE : 0-47 R.{Sir Henry Royce} C. Romorantin 3191 ENGLISH SPOKEN LAMOTTE-BEUVRON, LE 193 Report on accident to 38 EX Phantom III. I took over the car from I. Waller a few miles outside Paris in the direction of Chateauroux. Three miles before entering Lamotte Beuvron, at about six O'clock, my speed was approx 80 MPH, & in the distance an incoming car with headlamps full on was approaching. I reduced my speed & dipped my lamps simultaneously. The incoming car did not respond by dipping, so I again flicked my lamps as a signal for him to do so, I was blinded by his lights which continued full on. I was braking lightly to still further reduce my speed, suddenly I caught sight of a pair of led-horses side by side in the road ahead & at a very close distance. I braked heavily & swerved to avoid collision with them at the same time concentrating to avoid collision with the incoming car, which was drawing closer. The squealing of my tyres presumably caused the outside horse to rear & turn his hindquarters across my path, thereby still further reducing my margin of clearance. The car struck the horse on the hindquarters. The combined impact & braking brought the car to a standstill. The car being damaged badly as | ||