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).
The performance of new intermediate springs fitted to a demonstration car, model GSF.5.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 106\1\ scan0354 | |
| Date | 2nd September 1935 | |
| COPY. Rolls-Royce Ltd. London. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Levallois. Sr.7/ET.2.9.35. Re: NEW SPRINGS FITTED TO OUR DEMONSTRATION CAR No. GSF.5. After fitting these springs and leaving the hydraulic shock dampers with their original Works loading. We carried out a series of tests and the general conclusion we have come to is that the springing of this car has been considerably improved. There is no doubt that 20/25 HP. chassis fitted with these springs would give satisfaction to 90% of our customers out here and in the very few cases where we might have complaints, the fitting of low rating type springs would be a definite cure for the only disadvantage of the intermediate springs as compared to the low rating springs, is that they are inclined to be harsher at very low speeds. On the other hand, they are far better at these very low speeds than were the standard springs fitted to the car. At high speeds, the road holding is quite fair. Undoubtedly the standard springs give better results than the intermediate type if one wishes to 'bat' the car over bad roads, but when this is the case we generally know of it when we sell the car and we can specify for springs accordingly. The general behaviour of the steering is quite good and fairly free from road shocks, but again, and naturally so, at high speeds the car is inclined to wander more than with the standard springs. It is my suggestion that the car should be given further tests with different initial loadings of the shock dampers, as it will be remembered that we gained such very useful information from similar tests carried out on our Bentley demonstrator B.1.CW. which has enabled us to solve the springing question as applied to Bentley chassis in France. I should like to end up by stating that, in my opinion, the intermediate springs are a vast improvement over standard springs and it would not enter my mind to put the standard springs back on our demonstrator after having tried the intermediate type. Shall we be able to get these springs in future for 20/25 HP. chassis for Continental use ? I certainly think they should be fitted to these chassis preferably to the standard springs now fitted. Sr. | ||