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).
Letter from a prospective customer comparing their current Packard with a new car regarding its length, turning circle, and speed.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 96\1\ scan0005 | |
| Date | 12th July 1938 | |
| 309 304 / 314 D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} 12th July 1938. Dear Alan, Many thanks for your nice breezy letter, and for all the trouble you have taken. There is one point you emphasized the other day, and again in your letter of yesterday, which makes me doubt, and that is that "I ought to take a fairly long run and drive myself." (that would have to be a stipulation for the run, as being driven bores me stiff)!! Surely the Rolls would not be more "unwieldy" than the Packard as the comparative lengths are Rolls 17 ft. 7 ins. new Packard 18 ft. with the bumpers reduced. Both have the same turning circle, namely 48 ft. As I think I mentioned to you my present Packard is 17 ft 6 ins. with the luggage grid on, as I do all my travelling in this it means I am accustomed to a long car. (handwritten: about 18'0" with luggage) Then again there is the question of speeds. As far as I can remember my top speed is somewhere about half yours as I think you did on the Birkenhead/Chester Road 104, or was it 108 !! My wife never cares to go more than about forty miles an hour unless we have to pass anything and then one gets up possibly to 55 miles an hour !! Needless to say, from my point of view the great attraction is that I should have as near perfect a car as one can get. There would be no difference in speed up or down hills practically no changing of gears, and a 3 mths.{Reg Matthews} service from the Comp | ||