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).
Customer satisfaction test drive and feedback for Chassis No. 147-GY.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 137\4\ scan0293 | |
| Date | 18th March 1931 | |
| COPY. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} from Bt.{Capt. J. S. Burt - Engineer} Btl1/GD18.3.31. J.W.Davies Esq., Chassis No. 147-GY. As instructed, I went with Mr. Davies's car and JLE.{J. Lee Evans - Chassis Test Manager} to take this owner out and endeavour to obtain an expression of satisfaction with the car. JLE.{J. Lee Evans - Chassis Test Manager} drove the car and next to him one of Mr. Davies's partners, who is evidently the technical expert. Mr. Davies and I sat in the back of the car. We ran about 10 miles out on a good road, and coming back Mr. Davies's partner rode with him inside. Mr. Davies's partner was perfectly satisfied that there was now nothing to complain about, and I believe that Mr. Davies is also of the same opinion, though being older and more cautious he is not prepared to say so until he has had the car in use some little time. The only complaint that remains is of the ventilator on the N/S which is still inclined to hiss slightly. I undertook that we would get Messrs. Thrupp and Maberly to do something more with this, and that we would deliver the car as quickly as possible. As Mr. Davies remarked that his driver was not very good with the gear changing, JLE.{J. Lee Evans - Chassis Test Manager} has arranged that the car should be demonstrated to Mr. Davies's driver when it is handed over. I should perhaps record the opinion that riding in the back of the car with Mr. Davies, when it was driven by JLE.{J. Lee Evans - Chassis Test Manager} I thought the car a very pleasant example of a R.R. The speeds at which the car was driven were, we understood, those at which Mr. Davies usually travels, namely about 40 mp.h. On one occasion the car was accelerated to 60 m.p.h. but Mr. Davies was engaged in talking to me at the time and made no comment. During the conversation, Mr. Davies mentioned that at the time he bought the car he gave his two sons money to buy themselves a car, stipulating only that it should be employed in the purchase of a British Car. A Sunbeam and a Humber were purchased. JLE.{J. Lee Evans - Chassis Test Manager} who discussed the matter with Mr. Davies's partner is of the opinion that it is worth our while to send a 20/25 H.P. Car for the partner and Mr. Davies's two sons to try. Will S. please discuss the matter with JLE.{J. Lee Evans - Chassis Test Manager} I think JLE.{J. Lee Evans - Chassis Test Manager} would agree with me in saying that CONT'D :- | ||