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).
Proposed modifications to an Austin 8HP car to improve steering and ride quality.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 124\4\ scan0022 | |
| Date | 2nd March 1941 | |
| To Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/FJH.{Fred J. Hardy - Chief Dev. Engineer} from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Copy to Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GB. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Wym.{G. Harold Whyman - Experimental Manager} 1043 AUSTIN 8HP. CAR. ---------- We want to see whether, by using our knowledge, we can make the Austin 8 steer and ride in an acceptable manner. We can alter the shock absorbers and fit double acting if found necessary, we can fit a roll rod, we can increase the spring deflection and we can even alter the spring lengths to reduce the stress in the top plate, provided that this does not interfere with the body space or the engine compartment. We can alter the tyre construction, but cannot put up the tyre section very much, or the seating accommodation and steering lock will suffer. At the same time as this work is being done on the suspension and steering, we have asked Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Wym.{G. Harold Whyman - Experimental Manager} to do what he can to make the car quiet. This will necessitate putting rubber between the axle and the rear springs, and also probably fitting rubber at the front end of the rear springs and at the fixed end of the front springs. This should be done before we get too far with the steering experiments, or it may interfere with the results obtained. We can modify the transverse and longitudinal pivot out of centre point and the type of bearing in the pivot and also the steering box if this is found desirable. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||