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).
Road test and assessment of a 12-cylinder Lagonda car, including comparisons to a Phantom III model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 128\1\ scan0348 | |
| Date | 23th June 1938 | |
| 110H By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} c. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}10/R.23.6.38. 12-CYLINDER LAGONDA. W.O. Bentley was good enough to let us try his own 12-cylinder Lagonda car on Wednesday, and also let us examine the pieces in process of manufacture. In addition to an ordinary road test we took the car on Brooklands. The general impression we got from the car was that it represented a distinct achievement having regard to the time and the resources at the disposal of the Lagonda Co. It is evident that Trisillian put in a great deal of hard work in designing this car. The intermediate length of chassis gives a body space which very closely approximates to that avail-able on the Continental P.III. Without taking accurate measurements we should say that the Lagonda has slightly more room. We were told that the complete weight of the car we tried weighed just under two tons. Considering the accommoda-tion it is a very meritorious figure, a similar P.III weighing 52 cwts, or more. The most attractive feature of the chassis is, undoubtedly, the power plant, which is remarkably smooth, and, from the Brooklands figures must have a very good top power output. Up to 40 m.p.h., however, it is somewhat flat, and, for this reason would not be a nice car to drive in top gear in London traffic. From the point of view of the occupants of the car, it approaches the Rolls-Royce standard of silence at all speeds, except for tyre groans and an exhaust boom round about 30 m.p.h. The steering is too heavy at low speeds, but in view of the weight on the front tyres, this cannot be fundamental, and it will not take them long to put it right. It is, apparently, due to the poor design and inferior workman-ship put into the Marles steering which they fit. The gearbox is reasonably quiet, but the big central change-lever spoils the freedom of access to the front seats. At the moment they are suffering from heat in the front seats. Here again, it is only a matter of knowing how tp put it right and the trouble can be eliminated. | ||