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).
Eight-in-line engine and the future need for smaller cars and shorter engines due to traffic congestion.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\Q\December1926-January1927\ 79 | |
| Date | 1st December 1926 guessed | |
| C O P Y. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from OY. RE. EIGHT CYLINDER CAR. You recently asked about the eight-in-line engine and I gave you such information as we had. Now may I refer you to the December number of the S.A.E. Journal, which, amongst a lot of very interesting information, has two articles, Crane on Engine Characteristics, and Little (formerly Chief Engineer of Lincoln) on the smaller refined car. The first is largely elementary but has some useful discussion of the various types of eight cyl. engine. It is particularly interesting as representing undoubtedly a summary of results from the General Motors 'proving ground', where cars of all makes are constantly in use. The second is perhaps too enthusiastic, but in a man of Little's standing (he is president of the Society) cannot be called visionary. Apparently your recent question about the eight-in-line points to more advanced developments than anything we know about. I want to suggest to you that the time has passed, at least in the U.S. where the virtues of an engine design can be usefully considered apart from the car as a whole, and particularly the coachwork. With the increasing traffic congestion the 40/50 car is no longer a 'useful vehicle' even in a village like Springfield, because it is too long. All our owners have smaller cars for their city work and can only use their large cars for inter-city transportation (instead of the railroads). If one of these days they should discover that refined smaller cars are available which will afford both comfortable and quick long-distance communication, and usefulness in the city, our business would be seriously in danger. Luckily at present it is not so. The long heavy car is becoming squeezed out by harder and harder traffic conditions and is already the subject of oppressive legislation in some states. It seems to me that since we shall have to compress the car and cannot compress the passengers, we must shorten the engine. contd :- | ||