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).
Letter detailing road test results and performance feedback for car 21-G-IV.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 5a\4\ 04-page137 | |
| Date | 14th November 1934 | |
| X5840 G.W. Hancock Esq., Hotel de France, Chateauroux, Indre, France. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson}17/KW.14.11.34. We have had 21-G-IV on the road. We are very pleased with the steering. The brakes are much improved with the alterations to the servo. The clutch is now quite good, it is the fabric on the driven member with the sprung back plate type. We find that to get a smooth engagement we have to slit the centre plate carrying the fabric though there is no actual set on this plate. We have modified the flywheel back plate to reduce engine roughness. The result is certainly an improvement in engine roughness, but we found there was still a marked period from 40 to 60 M.P.H. under full throttle conditions. We suspect that this is the slipper wheel and we have dismantled this. Even though the period is still there we shall send the car out, as we must proceed with the lead bronze bearing test. It will be interesting to note if the period disappears with running. He, has pointed out that the average speeds which you are recording, i.e., 41 and 42 m.p.h., might lead Sales to think that the Cadillac is having an easy time. We realise of course that average speeds give no indication of the maximum speeds which are maintained for long periods. Therefore, without wishing you to drive the car any harder than you are doing at present, we should like you to indicate that at times during the day average speeds of over 50 m.p.h. are obtained for, say, 50 or 60 miles. In other words, the car is not having an easier time than the last Phantom which was running in France. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||