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).
Providing feedback on the performance and features of the Cresta car after a test drive.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 111\4\ scan0194 | |
| Date | 4th August 1950 | |
| Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} from Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} c. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}7/E2440 re Cresta - 4.B.50. I was very glad to have the opportunity of trying this car. Generally speaking, the performance seemed to me very good indeed but, as I have never driven the 12-cyl. Lagonda, I am unable to make any comparisons. I imagine that we have some information on this point so, when we have our next chassis meeting, perhaps you can give us some information as to how the performances of the two cars compare. The steering seemed to me to be excellent, delightfully light, etc., I noticed from the card on the car that it has a low gear ratio. This I had noticed but only when more or less using full lock. The brakes seem to me to be very good. I am very glad to see that we have at last got the automatic starting device which seemed to function so very well. I noticed a very unpleasant feature and that was the heat at the back of the back seat. This seemed to be worse about the middle of the seat on the near side. It will have to be corrected as even under present conditions it is very unpleasant and on a hot day would be unbearable. The bonnet fastening seemed to be a very poor affair and very difficult to operate. The instrument board layout seemed to me to be poor and capable of considerable improvement. For instance the switchblock, which it is quite unnecessary to be able to see easily, occupies the best position on the board from a visibility point of view. There are one or two points on the body about which I have sent a separate note to Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} | ||