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 performance report on a Buick car, covering steering, springing, and performance.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 5a\5\ 05-page086 | |
| Date | 1st March 1928 | |
| X5771 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/AJL/LG22. 3.28. BUICK CAR. ROAD PERFORMANCE. X3317 STEERING. The steering is very low geared, 3 turns of the wheel are required to turn from one full lock to the other. It is also spongy and uncertain; it is necessary to be always checking the steering to keep a straight course. Self-centering is poor, practically non-existant. No road shocks are felt at the steering wheel, no wobbles were obtainable neither high nor low speed. The steering is light - from the appearance of the box it is a cam and lever steering similar to the Stutz. The wheel position is poor if the front seat is adjusted to give comfortable pedal operation. SPRINGING. The springing is quite good for the class of car, but not comparable with our 20 HP. springing. The front springing is fairly soft, the rear rather hard. Lovejoy one-way dampers are fitted. All springs creak, no gaiters being fitted. PERFORMANCE. The engine power is good. Acceleration is better than the standard average 20 HP. (RR.) Performance on hills is better than the Goshawk. The maximum speed obtainable on a level road is approx. 58 m.p.h. (correct). The speedometer fitted reads fast, the error increases from 1% at 20 m.p.h. to 5% at 50 m.p.h. The following figures show results obtained when the car was taken over the standard Cos. test route. | ||