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).
Criticisms regarding the performance and springing of Wraith cars.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 108\2\ scan0185 | |
| Date | 13th December 1938 | |
| Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Wraith Cars. Cx{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager}14/KW13.12.38. I have not personally seen any very serious criticisms of the Wraith rising out of demonstrations we have given so far, but the general tendency of criticism is that the car leaves the impression that it is not as fast as the previous 25/30. My own view, having regard to the fact that the weight is slightly greater, is that the car is ultimately faster than the 25/30, and by making perhaps a little more use of the gearbox, which incidentally is a very attractive one to use, a better average can be put up over a long journey. As you know, we borrowed Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}'s car for a while, and that was criticised by two people as being not capable of reaching more than 72 m.p.h. I reported this to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} and the car has been tested apparently, and I attach the reply which shows a mean average over a flat road of 73½, but the speedometer at that speed appears to be dead accurate and does not allow for any error in favour of the car. Of course, this is not very fast, and I should have thought that the car ought to be faster on the level. Furthermore, I met Mr. Paton of the Austin Motor Co. at a dinner the other night, and he referred to the maximum speed as being something under 70. I immediately reported this to H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} so that FBS{F. Bell-Scott} who was seeking an appointment to see Mr. Paton's car could be notified of this criticism. The next point of criticism, but not a serious one, is that the spr nging is rather too light. I heard this first in Glasgow in respect of Park Ward's Trials Car, and also Mr. List thought it so in respect of their own Wraith Demonstration Car, but Mr. List added that it was only his personal view. I have not heard of any other criticisms of their car except his, and one would not too hastily condemn it for one person's opinion. I had Park Ward's car checked up when it got back to London, and it was found that the hand control to the shock absorbers was not functioning properly due to dirt under the valve seats. In the case of one of our own Trials Cars WXA-40, where the springing was reported as being too light, (cont) | ||