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).
Vehicle performance and handling report, comparing it to competitor models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 181\M9\ img079 | |
| Date | 13th November 1931 | |
| -2- Ha/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}J/MJ.13.11.31.Cont'd.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} top gear. Its acceleration is not outstanding but it cannot be called sluggish. The ingle Solex fitted is free from flat spots and pleasantly responsive. The body fitted is the smallest sold with this power unit which naturally effects performance advantageously. However, it holds four people in comfort. The clutch worked sweetly. The brakes were quite good effective with a fair amount of pressure but the pedal travel seemed unnecessarily great. There is no easy change. The gearbox is said to be Aluminium. The steering is light but lacks selectivity and self-centring somewhat. The steering lock is astonishingly good. The suspension is mediocre. ---- Summarising this-car our impressions. We prefer this car to the Wizard because its power unit is altogether more silent and free from periods. It leaves a feeling of surprise that so nice, silent, and well balanced a small car can be retailed over here against a 33% duty at so low a figure. It would be an interesting car to buy because it represents what we consider to be the best production that we have so far tried in this class, though we have no experience of the latest Sunbeam. The Fiat has not the performance of the 20 HP. Chrysler, but is smaller and as a motor-car we like it better. Naturally, in all cheap massed production cars there must be big variations from chassis to chassis, we can only judge by what we try. Further particulars are in the Autocar of July 24th. and August 7th. Ha/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||