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).
Test drive report and critique of an Essex car's performance.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 21\6\ Scan004 | |
| Date | 29th November 1920 | |
| X4217 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} To Mr Warwick from DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} [Stamp: NOV 30 1920 REC'D] DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}1/CB29-11-20. RE ESSEX CAR. ------------------ I had this car out for a short while on Saturday afternoon, as arranged with you. The worst part about it appears to be the springing, which is extremely bad for throwing one about. So much so, that if the steering had not been fairly steady it would have been difficult to keep the car on the road. It appeared to be equally bad for a very bad road, or for a moderately bad one, and on a good road with a bad patch it was most disconcerting. The steering was quite good, I thought, road shocks being scarcely perceptible, while at the same time the steering was not particularly stiff; it was, of course, stiffer than an R.R. I should agree that the car was convenient to handle, except that the hand brake appeared to pull in a very uncomfortable position. The hand operated shutter did not seem so good as one operated by a thermostat, though one appeared to be able to run for quite a considerable time with the shutter closed without boiling. The footbrake dithered very easily on any sudden application; in fact, in order to make it not dither it was necessary to apply it very steadily and slowly. The car was extremely liable to skid, though it was fitted with rubber non-skid tyres. The engine was noisy at all speeds. Though it had no very bad periods there was a distinct one at Contd. | ||