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 run of a new Buick car, focusing on its synchro-mesh gearbox and straight-eight engine.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 124\3\ scan0154 | |
| Date | 25th April 1931 | |
| Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}..from PN.{Mr Northey} Copy to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} [Strikethrough] 83317. PN.{Mr Northey}2/WT25.4.31. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} and I were able to take a run yesterday in a new Buick car, treasury rating 26 h.p. - straight eight - price complete, Saloon, under £400. This car as well as the other two larger Buick types are fitted with three-speed synchro-mesh gearboxes. There is no doubt that the synchro-mesh scheme made gear-changing an entirely simple matter under all conditions. Of course it would have been much pleasanter if the change had been made on top to a silent third, instead of on to a noisy second. Undoubtedly we were very much struck with the usefulness of the synchro-mesh control. Incidentally the straight-eight engine ran extremely nicely at the relatively slow speeds we were using, and when the car was stationary the slow running of the engine was remarkably quiet and even. There were no engine periods to be noticed up to 45 m.p.h. PN.{Mr Northey} [Stamp: RECEIVED 27 APR 1931] | ||