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).
Correspondence page from a 1939 motoring magazine with various reader letters.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 160\4\ scan0076 | |
| Date | 9th May 1939 | |
| The Motor 568 May 9, 1939. File for Run 1379 CORRESPONDENCE An American's remodelled Austin (see letter below). A Tour with an Object AS one who has had the advantage of making the tour described by Christopher Jennings in "The Time has Come" (The Motor, December 20, 1938) I feel impelled to register my grateful thanks to you for publishing a journey of such far-found interest, not to say education and amusement. We carried out your instructions to the letter and are returning much benefited. This hotel is the pièce de résistance and will be a Mecca for us many future week-ends if Hitler, Mussolini and Co. don't interfere. You mention other tours. I am a very keen applicant, having had an appetizer. H. {Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} C. C. CARLTON. Loughborough. [This article described a tour to Gwbert-on-Sea, just above Cardigan, where dozens of seals are to be seen on the rocks surrounding Cardigan Island. The hotel referred to is the Three Cocks, Brecon. Further articles of a similar nature are in hand.—ED. {J. L. Edwards} ] An American Sports Enthusiast Remodels an Austin Car PLEASE permit me to introduce myself as an American sports-car enthusiast. I am now a graduate student of automotive engineering at Cornell University. Last summer I remodelled an American Austin chassis by lowering the frame and fitting a new two-seater body. The engine is a 1930 standard power plant of 45.6 cubic ins. displacement (747 c.c.), to which I have made a few alterations, such as raising the compression from 5 to 6.35 to 1 and changing the carburation from updraught to downdraught with a different intake manifold. The engine speed is limited by such things as uncounterweighted crankshaft and poor valve timing, but in spite of these handicaps I have succeeded in obtaining speeds of approximately 75 m.p.h. from the car. I am a reader of your magazine, and I enjoy your technical articles on race cars immensely. Your unbiased and truthful discussions on automobiles of all makes, whether advertised in your magazine or not, are something we sorely lack in this country. You are to be congratulated for your excellent policies. WILBUR C. RICE. Ithaca, New York. Gadgets or Reliability? No Grouses Against “Tens” THE word “maudlin,” used by “Gaga,” who complains about his 10 h.p. car (The Motor, May 2), in my opinion, governs that letter. I have an idea that it is not so much the “maudlin works” of the car owned as the maudlin works of the owner which need attention. I have had many years' experience of 10 h.p. cars, and have, like the majority of owners, had unfortunate experiences with them. I think a fair comment is that “Gaga” obviously has cacoethes scribendi and, moreover, commits the grievous error of generalizing. COMPOS MENTIS. London, N.22. Important Components Skimped POOR “Gaga”; you are well named. I sympathize deeply with you in the misfortunes you have suffered with your 10 h.p. car (The Motor, May 2). The gadget craze seems to have upset some maker's economic sense. Obviously the budget for the production of a popular car is cut to fine limits. Isn't it logical, then, to spend every available penny on providing some good material for the important mechanical parts, and on designing them well? To take a case in point, my car is fitted with an accessory that worked for three months and then gave up the ghost. Wouldn't it have been better for the manufacturer to have spent the cost of that item on making a more efficient back axle, instead of wasting it on a useless instrument? At present I have an accessory that won't work and a whining transmission system. TOUGH GUY. London, N.2. c22 The Streamlined Bentley Acceleration—a Comparison YOUR correspondent, Mr. W. G. {Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} S. Wike (The Motor, April 25) asks what the acceleration of the streamlined Bentley is like. As the driver of the car in question on the occasion of its performance at Montlhéry, I would state that when driving the streamlined Bentley in company with a standard 4¼-litre Bentley saloon on the track, at the end of one lap covered from a standing start (the lap being 1.6 miles) the streamlined car was approximately 50 lengths ahead of the standard Bentley. The improvement in acceleration is accounted for by the fact that the car weighs 10 per cent. less than standard and the engine torque is 15 per cent. greater than standard. Additionally, the reduction in wind resistance releases 18 h.p. for acceleration at 80 m.p.h. As the streamlining of this car is not dependent upon an undershield, there is no reason why it should be hotter inside than a standard car. Actually, the system of ventilation adopted seems to be very satisfactory. WALTER A. {Mr Adams} SLEATOR, Manager, Franco-Britannic Autos, Ltd. Paris. Let Your Transport Suit Your Journeys WHILST being a keen supporter of any sane movement for more or better roads, I cannot but disagree with “L.S.” and his article entitled “Open Up the Lake District” (The Motor, May 2). Having spent many holidays in this district, I consider that, from the touring point of view, the roads are adequate. I may add that my own vehicle, a 6 h.p. o.h.v. sidecar outfit, is easily capable of traversing Wrynose, Hardknott and the Old Kirkstone passes, and has done so with a passenger. In addition, all the Yorkshire passes are easy enough using such a vehicle. No, “L.S.,” if you are one of those who is only satisfied with seeing the best of a district, buy a motorcycle, with or without sidecar, for your touring. R. {Sir Henry Royce} G. {Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} MAIR. Ilford, Essex. [Our contributor “L.S.” was obviously considering the Lakeland area from the motorist's point of view. Mr. Mair does his touring on a motorcycle.—ED. {J. L. Edwards} ] Too Much Luggage Room WHY is so much room given to luggage these days? Only once a year do I ever make use of the trunk in my car and at those times I could easily dispose of some of the luggage in the back compartment. I would much rather have the increased passenger accommodation. N. E. {Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Luton. [If the rear seats were to be taken out to the extreme tail of the car, in the position now occupied by the luggage trunk, the passengers would be seated over or behind the rear axle which, experience has shown us in the past, is not a very comfortable one. Inter-axle seating is the most comfortable, and in spite of the large luggage trunks manufacturers still offer good seating.—ED. {J. L. Edwards} ] | ||