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).
The Phantom III (32-EX) performance tests at Brooklands before and after a 15,000-mile test.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 91\2\ scan0321 | |
Date | 11th September 1937 | |
To Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} 300a Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/IMW.{Ivan M. Waller - Head of Chateauroux}5/JH.11.9.37. 32-EX Phantom III. Tests at Brooklands before and after 15,000 Miles Test. 9.9.37. The car was taken to Brooklands on 29.6.37. and again on 9.9.37. Between these dates 14,300 miles were covered. During this time the valve gear was not disturbed more than was absolutely necessary when fitting the new set of connecting rods on returning from France, and the valves had not been removed from the heads. The lap speeds were exactly the same before and after the mileage, namely 85.8 m.p.h. on direct and 89 m.p.h. on overdrive. There was a difference in the Half Mile speeds attributed to wind, as follows Direct. Overdrive. Before mileage. 85.7 90. After mileage. 89.1 92.3 It will be noted that under all conditions on the level the car is faster on the overdrive by at least 3.2 m.p.h. whilst in France under favourable conditions the car exceeded 100 m.p.h. on the overdrive. We recollect encountering long hills in France which brought the speed of the car down to 70 m.p.h. and noting that it was still no faster in direct than overdrive. The Critical air temperature for the Mk.VI radiator from the figures obtained at Brooklands before the mileage was 38°C. In France approximately 10,000 miles after this figure was obtained, it had fallen to 31°C. This was at the time attributed to insects in the matrix, but it was subsequently found, just before returning to England, that the special filter in the outlet pipe was choked up. This was cleaned, and when the final Brooklands figure was taken the critical air temperature was found to be 37°C. The oil cooler was | ||