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 a 12-cylinder Lagonda, comparing it to a 4 1/4 Bentley.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 128\1\ scan0301 | |
| Date | 24th December 1937 | |
| H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} c. to Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} COPY AA{D. Abbot-Anderson}2/BK{A. Birkett - Commercial Manager}24.12.37 Re the 12 cylinder Lagonda. At lunch time on Tuesday last I was fortunate enough to be able to have a run on the 10 ft 4" wheelbase chassis Lagonda fitted with the Touring Saloon body. I suppose I did about 25 miles on it and one's first impression was remarkable smoothness right through the range, and ease of control. The latter feeling was a little upset as one went on by a rather heavy synchro-mesh action in the gearbox. I say heavy when comparing it with our 4 1/4 Bentley box. Possibly to many people not used to a box of such refinement this heaviness would not have been noticeable or unpleasant. Another thing which also helped to remove the feeling of lightness was the feeling of pushing oil through pipes when the foot brake was applied. This of course one would get used to, because it is, I believe, a feeling always associated with hydraulic brake systems. The smoothness of the engine is undoubtedly remarkable and it is also extraordinarily silent, although the engine gears could be heard on the particular car I tried. Whether this is characteristic of the engine or not I cannot say, as there was no other car with which I could compare it. If this gear noise was overcome the engine would be every bit as quiet as the 4 1/4 Bentley. The performance at low speed in top gear was not quite what one would expect. It is nothing like as good as the 4 1/4 Bentley. This could undoubtedly be overcome by lowering the axle ratio which could be done without detracting in any way from the 3rd gear performance of the car which is remarkably good, as it attains 90 m.p.h. in this gear. If the axle ratio was lowered to a maximum of 80 m.p.h in this gear the low speed performance in top gear would, I believe, be vastly improved. I have no doubt that "W.O." will make this modification, which will make the chassis a very fine performer. Another thing I noticed was when I was cornering fast and I rather deliberately put the car into the bad road surface at the side of the road to see how it behaved. Its front suspension is undoubtedly very good, but I felt that the back springs were too light, and the shock absorbers had not got sufficient control. Mr.Eresilian who was with me agreed, and said that they had actually been | ||