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).
Typed memo detailing a road test comparison between a cabriolet with front-wheel brakes and a standard landaulet.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 72\3\ scan0043 | |
| Date | 1st August 1924 | |
| Copy HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} To H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} from BJ. Copy to OJ. Bk.{A. Birkett - Commercial Manager} Chassis No. 48-PK. Confirming my telephone message this morning, Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} sent to Gerrards Cross 40/50 h.p. cabriolet No. 48-PK, fitted with front wheel brakes and similar springs to those which will be standard on all cars with these brakes. Commdr. Briggs and I tried this car over our usual test road, on which we have tried the springing of other cars. We were very interested in this test, because about three-fourths of our customers use closed cars, and it is the people who use closed cars who are most particular. We came to the conclusion that people who have been using Rolls-Royce cars in the past, and the 350 customers who will have been using our standard springs without front wheel brakes, will be very dissatisfied with front springs such as are fitted to 48-PK. Immediately after we tried our standard 40/50 h.p. landaulet trials car over the same route; whereas the latter floated along in the usual beautiful Rolls-Royce style, the former undoubtedly jolted along. We made careful tests at 10, 15, 20, 30 m.p.h. and higher speeds. Most users of closed cars travel between 10 and 35 m.p.h. and therefore all intermediary speeds are of great importance. I spoke to S.J. on my return and we thought that you would like to try the two cars, as perhaps you might be able to suggest the reason that the former is so different from the latter. The tyre pressures on both cars were 45 lbs. front and 40 lbs. back. The shock-absorbers appeared to be adjusted about equally on both cars, judging by the manner in which one could sway the car standing on the spot. I did not trouble to sit in the front of either of these cars, as customers on closed cars almost invariably occupy the back seat, and therefore the vibration in the front seat is of little interest. B.J. | ||