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).
Road test report on a Phantom III car, detailing performance of the clutch, steering, exhaust, and cooling system.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 96\3\ scan0115 | |
| Date | 21th September 1936 | |
| x360 STEADMAN: Presumably this is a faulty cylinder head. Have we any information of this? if so? Rms Pass on to GRY.{Shadwell Grylls} S/W. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} c. " E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. " Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} re- 34-EX. I was able to give this car a run yesterday and I think I can safely say that it is the best P.III that I have yet driven, having regard to points of criticism in the past, such as clutch, steering, etc. The clutch yesterday behaved very well indeed. It started from rest smoothly on any gear but was just suggestive of jaggering on reverse, although it was admittedly very slight. I am asking Mdx at the School to keep an eye on the clutch and keep you informed of its behaviour, and of the steering and other features of the chassis. As regards the steering, this was very much better than the steering on 3-AZ-38, and was I should say as good as any I have tried. It was quite free from any form of joggles, and was such as I think nobody could justifiably complain of. As regards the exhaust, this I found still noisy at 30 m.p.h., and has the drone for which I always criticised it. As regards the water temperature, this rose to 100° on a run from London to Portsmouth as soon as any fast driving was indulged in. I stopped once to make sure that it was full of water and found the water right up to the tank cap. The weather was cool with a following Easterly wind, and on this car there is no margin for hot weather or severe hill climbing or fast speed work before getting the water up to boiling point. Re wire mesh in front of radiator, this certainly alleviates somewhat the untidy appearance, although it is by no means a cure as one can still distinctly see the struts. We should therefore welcome the placing of these at the back of the matrix at the earliest possible moment. Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} Lucl | ||