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).
Driver's feedback and critique on a car's design and performance.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 90\2\ scan0177 | |
| Date | 10th July 1940 guessed | |
| -2- The body struck me as being a great improvement on the standard one. There was much more room, and I thought the seating and upholstery were a great advance on those in my car. I did not like the dashboard, as I think the concave instrument faces on my own car are a very great advance, but I understand that the lay out of the dashboard is not necessarily final. In appearance it seemed to me that the body was a little high and that the bonnet sloped down a little too much towards the radiator, giving the driver the impression of being perched up. I was very surprised to see that the capacity of the tank has been reduced to 16 gallons. I think this is unfortunate as it restricts one making a long run without a stop. I think in this particular car there must have been some leak in the petrol system, as after the tank was filled the interior of the car was filled with petrol fumes, but doubtless this is a temporary fault which can be overcome. In conclusion I thought the car a great improvement on the 4¼ standard car for ordinary runs, but quite frankly, even if I had the opportunity, I would not change it for my own. It seemed to me to have lost the feeling of a sports car and to have returned to the rather smug and respectable touring car class. I am perhaps not competent to express an opinion on this, having been brought up on the bumpy and harsh type of vehicle. The slackening of the tension of the suspension seemed to me to bring with it a certain amount of uncertainty at really high speeds, and for my own taste I would not sacrifice anything for this security in fast driving. From conversations I have had with members of the Rolls Royce staff I should, however, imagine that I belong to a possibly undesirable minority who are prepared to sacrifice everything for a maximum average speed. Personally I like to drive as fast as the road conditions will allow, and for persons with this possibly perveted taste I think the standard 4¼ is a better job than the present one. --- | ||