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).
Modifications to a Lanchester car to achieve higher speeds.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 180\M1\6\ img003 | |
| Date | 11th October 1921 | |
| (G/10/21) No 2 Mr Hives & Mr Wormald To BJ. from R.{Sir Henry Royce} of R4/G11/10/21 Contd. Regarding the speed of the Lanchester, you will remember that some years ago we got 102 miles an hour with our chassis when streamlined and fitted with a speed body. For these high speeds an increase in the compression ratio is always advisable, though this spoils the smoothness of the engine for ordinary slow speed touring. In the case of an increased compression ratio, a mixture of Shell Spirit and Benzole should be used to avoid detonations. It is possible that the valve springs and the tappet springs could both be increased in tension with advantage, as in any case this valve mechanism must not leave the cams or the springs will break. It is difficult to see how Mr. Hives can be spared for this work, so very possibly Mr. Platford could take the matter up. It should be clearly understood that in any case our engine is not of the racing type, the high speed suggested would be of no use to an ordinary user. If the car is to be fitted up for speed it should have tightly adjusted shock dampers and rather rigid springs. The back axle, wheels and tyres, should be made as light as ever possible, so as to hold the road and the car should be fitted with springs made as rigid as possible sideways by extra clips, and be of the thin leaf type so as to get extra damping. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||