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).
Reviewing the performance and features of a 16-cylinder Cadillac.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 125\1\ scan0105 | |
| Date | 1st August 1934 | |
| X1729 S/W. To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} copy to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} copy to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}13/D1.8.34. Re: 16-cylinder Cadillac. As mentioned in a former memo., we have tried this car and we are certainly impressed with the silence and lack of vibration in the engine, but we are a little surprised to note the amount of engine roar. Speaking of the car generally, we think it is overdone from the point of view of size. One can hardly imagine anyone deriving very much pleasure from driving a car of this type for any length of time. One of the most unpleasant features is the very low geared steering, which gives one a feeling of insecurity at speeds when passing other vehicles. The car feels immensely big to drive and when I got back on to my 40/50 h.p. it felt like getting on to a 20/25 after a Phantom. We have heard a good deal in praise of American coachwork, and as this is a very expensive car from the American point of view, we would like to give our views in regard to the coachwork. It is 2" longer than our long wheelbase 40/50 and with no better seating accommodation, - in fact the extra seats are not as good as ours, i.e. no normal person could sit in them with any degree of comfort. This is principally due to their bad placing. The make-up of these seats is old-fashioned according to our views. The upholstery strikes us as being very poor in quality and uninteresting in type, and many of the fittings cheap and tawdry. It is extraordinarily badly equipped for luggage; the boot at the back is practically useless for this purpose, as for some inexplicable reason provision is made inside it for carrying a spare wheel, although there are already two, one on each side of the bonnet, so that there are only the two folding arms at the back. I understand that we have purchased this car chiefly to see what we would be up against from the point of view of a luxury car with 16 cylinders, and because of its independent springing. | ||