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).
Road test report on a car model detailing driving impressions, pricing, sales figures, and a comparison with a future model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 179b\1\ img215 | |
| Date | 7th December 1932 | |
| EV{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}2/7.12.32. cont. From the near side front door, coming up between the door and the sill was such a draught that it made me shiver and water blew in. The steering is delightful, being very light, slightly reversible and yet quite free from road shocks. The springing was not so hard as on the open car I tried and I learned that there are several types of springing which one can choose according to what sort of driving one normally does. The third gear is now more quiet but not so good as ours. The torque reaction on picking up from slow on top is very severe, but the car is extraordinarily manageable at low speeds in top gear. As the engine was new I was not allowed to do any speed but on one occasion I got up to 70M.P.H. and very quickly too. The car gives one no idea of the speed one is travelling at due to the steady steering, the low centre of gravity, and the tenacious way the car holds the road. The wings jelly badly but the radiator is steady. The salesman told me that Folletts have sold between February last and the end of October 88 cars. Chassis are very much behind in delivery. The chassis price is £500. Thrupp & Maberly Four Door Saloon. £890. Vanden Plas Two Door Saloon ------- £860. Vanden Plas Open Sports---------- £775. The chassis price includes the headlamps and all the instruments. The general impression was that the model has considerably improved since it first came out and that the performance is extremely good for a 2½ litre engine. 25H.c.c. There is little doubt that Bensport will be an infinitely better car with much greater refinement, and a much better performance in that its engine is 3660 c.c. or 40% bigger. EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} | ||