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).
Weekend test run of a Humber Super Snipe car, model RC.7035.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 126\2\ scan0108 | |
| Date | 22th March 1939 | |
| 1069 To By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Wym.{G. Harold Whyman - Experimental Manager}10/JH.22.3.39. Report on Week-end run with Humber Super Snipe car RC.{R. Childs}7035. Mileage 198. Maximum speed on Six Hills on speedo. Out 92 m.p.h In 78 m.p.h. Average 85 m.p.h. Corrected 80 m.p.h. Petrol consumption 13.9 m.p.g. Oil consumption 1188 m.p.g. Car performance is very good. Engine is smooth and quiet throughout whole range. Engine mounting is good except for idling conditions. When idling the engine rocks the whole car, and would not be accepted by us. Slow running on the road is good. Starting from cold good, but engine runs far too long with the automatic choke in the closed position. Anyone like a doctor making house to house calls in cold weather would run almost continually with the choke closed, with a consequent poor petrol consumption, and bad effects on cylinder bore wear. Carb intake roars. Exhaust system poor generally - centre suspension bracket again broken during week-end. Gearbox. Most objectionable feature is the continuous 'DRY' ball race noise at all speed - worst box I have ever heard in this respect. Gears generally are reasonably good and quite acceptable on this car. Synchro-mesh is not reliable when hot, on two occasions my hand was kicked off the gear lever due to the synchro not working when trying to obtain 3rd. gear. It is far too easy to engage reverse gear instead of 2nd. gear. I found it 3 | ||