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).
Steering complaint on a 'New Phantom' from the Maharaja of Alwar's engineer.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 67\4\ scan0074 | |
| Date | 11th May 1926 | |
| E.L. Sc3/EW/11.5.26. Re: 'New PhantomCodename for PHANTOM I' Steering. I yesterday had a call from Mr. Canty, who you will remember is the Head Motor Engineer to the Maharaja of Alwar's Fleet of Motor Cars. You will also remember that when the Maharaja was over here in 1923, he purchased several Hispano-Suiza Cars and would not buy any more R.R's because they were not fast enough. He was also doing his best to sell H.S. Cars to his Maharaja friends. On the introduction of the 'New PhantomCodename for PHANTOM I', he placed an order for one. Almost immediately after delivery, they intended to have a speed test between the H.S. and the R.R. Canty was driving the R.R. and when he reached a speed of about 45 m.p.h. he found the steering so difficult to control that he was scared to drive faster and told the Maharaja that there must be something radically wrong with the steering and that possibly it had been damaged in transit, etc., Kirby was sent for from Delhi and found that the steering suffered from the complaint which appears to be common to all 'New PhantomCodename for PHANTOM I's, and as the result of a complaint received from India, it was agreed some little time ago to send them out a new steering. Canty has been to 'W' and knows the present position. I understand he was once at the Works at Derby but apart from this, I do not consider he is in any way antagonistic to R.R. and seems quite friendly. I mention this particularly because otherwise it might be considered that his views were biassed. I asked him how the H.S. steering behaved under the same conditions and on same roads and he said quite perfectly at all speeds but he told me that on one of the first ones, they experienced terrifying wheel wobble at high speed but that the manufacturers had entirely overcome this. He yet remains to be convinced that the new steering is going to overcome the trouble. He is now going over to France to meet the Maharaja and I told him we would give him a trial on his return as he made it quite clear that whilst they were otherwise prepared to order some more 'New PhantomCodename for PHANTOM I's, they would not do so unless the steering difficulty was overcome. - 1 - | ||