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).
The performance of an English Phantom car following testing at the General Motors Proving Grounds.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 69\4\ scan0223 | |
| Date | 23th November 1927 | |
| X8770 W HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} OY13.R.11.23.27 November 23rd, 1927. Mr. Basil Johnson, Rolls Royce Ltd., London, England. (Copy for attention Mr. E.W. Hives) Dear Mr. Johnson: RE: 61-EF - English Phantom This car is the one on which a special Barker body was fitted to the order of H.M. Crane of the General Motors Corp. The report of our representative, Mr. L.F. Thompson, on this car may be of interest to you and is given below: - "I have just returned from the General Motors Proving Grounds and have the following report to make: "General Motors engineers complained that the steering was very heavy. This was due to dry steering box and very tight cross steering tube. The car would only do 74 m.p.h. but by making the throttle open fully, readjusting the carburetor, readjusting the tappets etc., we were able to read a speed of 85 m.p.h. on the speedometer, which was said to be set "low." "The General Motors engineers were very pleased with the car in every way, and its performance was beyond what they expected with the exception of the riding quality which they say was very poor. "They claim that their instruments showed that the car had better performance on battery alone than it had on battery and magneto. They also claim that the two spark plugs kept so close together are no better than one ignition. "They thought our brakes were marvelous. no"This chassis, I noticed, was a particularly good one. At 86 m.p.h. I did/notice any signs of the valve springs fluttering and the steering was very steady. No signs of wobble or tramping at any speed. (Continued) | ||