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).
Test drive report and critique of car 3. B. IV, covering engine, steering, gearbox, clutch, and suspension performance.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 82\5\ scan0100 | |
| Date | 29th April 1937 | |
| HOTEL DE FRANCE, CHATEAUROUX. Indre. France. 29th April 1937. 200a (3) Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GWH{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}/c/JAB. To. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} 3. B. IV. I have tried this car. The engine performance is standard. There are no marked periods and with the standard mounting, is fairly smooth slow running and idling was erratic. STEERING. This steering was heavy for shunting and slow speeds. It did not feel stable at speed, there was a continual feel of diving. Waller tells me it was worse with the longer standard pendulum lever. GEARBOX. Change was sluggish and heavy shift lever felt gummed up. CLUTCH. The engagement caused a general vibration throughout the transmission, and driving dog rattle most noticeable. REAR AXLE. Good standard. SPRINGING. This car rode more like a standard Bentley, but is too heavy on the front with minimum control. The rear rides well on all medium class roads. It is on bad undulating road surfaces that the rear dampers show ineffectiveness. The periodicity of the rear springs overcomes the dampers and bad pitching occurs. ---------- Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} | ||