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).
Performance review and critique of a car's springing, gearbox, steering, and body.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 65a\3\ scan0187 | |
| Date | 28th December 1929 guessed | |
| -2- the comfort of the passengers in the back seats is of paramount importance. SPRINGING. The springing of the rear end of the Car appears to be as nearly ideal as it can possibly be, and the same applies to the front springs when driving slowly. For fast work, however, the front leaves much to be desired, and in the hands of an inexperienced driver I do not think that this car can be regarded as absolutely safe in its present condition. GEAR-BOX. Much the same criticism applies in this case because although almost any sort of Box that is easy to manipulate where slow work and Town work is desired, will do; if the car is used for long distances at high speeds the gear spacing is incorrect because to obtain a really high average the third speed is altogether too low. On this car the maximum obtainable in third would appear to be about 54., but this can only be guess work from the feel of the engine owing to there being no revolution counter fitted. It is consequently not possible to know when the engine reaches 3,200 which is, I believe, where it peaks. Otherwise the gears, themselves, are easy to shift, but the spring loaded device is a bit of a nuisance until the driver gets used to it. STEERING. This is almost perfect under all conditions, in the writer's opinion, though perhaps some highly specialised critics might say that it was a little bit "rubbery". Road shocks as well are a little too easily felt. BODY. This is by no means good viewed from all angles, and also the disposition of the instruments on the dashboard renders them difficult to get at. The bulb-horn comes over and fouls the lighting and ignition switches: when the right hand front door window is up the window lift lever comes within an inch of the steering wheel and if one has gloves on one barks ones knuckles on this all the time. | ||