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).
Test drive report for a Phantom III vehicle over a 240-mile journey.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 91\1\ scan0071 | |
| Date | 16th September 1935 | |
| COPY Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Re Phantom III Cxl/KW.16.9.35. 1. I drove this car over the week-end a distance of approximately 240 miles, some of which was in darkness. 2. On the journey from London we ran with a comparatively light load, i.e. two passengers and two suit cases, and on the way back I carried a full load with heavy luggage in more or less touring condition. 3. On the outward journey the best speed we were able to attain on the Hertford Bridge Flats, which is dead straight and level, with scarcely any wind, was 87 m.p.h. Later, on a definite down grade 92 was reached. 4. As we approached our destination the water temperature was creeping up to well over 90, and finally reached boiling point. Lewis carefully checked over everything and found no leak, but the engine required 3 1/4 gallons of water to replace what we had lost. 5. I was very disappointed with the illumination of the speedometer, which is not as good now as the sample concave illumination which Wst brought down and showed us here. This is because the speedometer is now very much larger in diameter. The four small dials are quite well lighted, and these merely serve to draw attention to the indifferent lighting of the speedometer. I think we should be severely criticised as it is on 33-EX. 6. On the return journey with a full load and luggage we had more normal road conditions, for whereas the journey down was made in the early hours with practically no traffic, and therefore very few checks, the return journey was made in the afternoon with much traffic all the way from the Bournemouth district to London. 7. The top gear jumped out of engagement three times within the first 60 miles. 8. We had a following wind which brought into prominence what are undoubtedly gearbox side shaft hum, axle hum and certain engine noises which I think are below our standard, and the engine fuss was particularly noticeable when accelerating with the car running between 40-50 m.p.h. The gearbox did not seem as nice as those to which we have been (contd) | ||