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).
Road test from Boulogne to Biarritz, with feedback on vehicle performance and recommendations for the Continental market.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 19\1\ Scan052 | |
| Date | 22th September 1930 guessed | |
| On the run from Boulogne to Biarritz the water temperature was always between 80 to 85, and at times 90. although there were no long hills and the weather was not hot. The bonnet was louvred. At Biarritz we remove the front under shield and the normal maximum temperature at high speeds on the level is never over 80 and mostly 75. We did the long climb from El Escorial over the Guadarrama Hills in top and third and only reached 90 whilst the new Chrystler w ich followed us was boiling. During the whole time the travelling was extremely comfortable and the lack of rolling due to the low centre of gravity was ve y pronounced. The silent tread Fort Dunlop Tyres are a possitive danger on the highly sanded Spanish roads and on the French roads when wet. On this type of car we would recommend the square tread. The heat under the rear cushion over the exhaust swan neck is too great and needs avoiding in future. The Lucas head lamps are inadequate for the speed of the car after dark and are not so good as somme of the lamps on the cheaper French cars- such as Ducellier and Marchel. The centre lamp is not appreciated by the oncoming car. The new Legal French Standard Head lamp is very good and we suggest that HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} should obtain a set of Stephan Grebel or Marchel and try them. Is it essential to have English Lamps on a Continental Trials car in future, and must we still fit the Lucas.? The single note horn as fitted to 26EX. is not loud enough for the open road. If it is a Bosch it is badly adjusted. The Klaxon is not much use here. We would like to develop a horn on the lines of the two note Bosch and so avoid the use of a wind horn. We will investigate this. We have been asked by all parties interested exactly what chassis is used on 26EX. We have said that it is a standard short chassis P 2. with special tuning to suit high speed touring, stiffer springs and more damping, together with a higher axle ratio. We insist that this can only be supplied on the Sports Short Chassis, but that we will supply the new angle of column on led "F" type on the long chassis. We think that this car or a development of it should suppliment our normal propaganda cars at Biarritz, the Riviera, Paris, London and Madrid etc. We suggest that 26EX. should be at the Salon and also at Olympia to give trial runs, and then that its would call at the Riviera. We also think that a similar edition of the 25HP, would appeal to the Continental tastes and EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} will shew you a suitable design on his return. RESUME' (I) The ordinary English Coachwork of Barke and Hooper does not appeal to the Latin taste. Modern art is rampant here in the design of villas and furnishing. (2) Large cars are the chief market but they must look low and smalli small. (3) There is a definite market for a high speed Continental Touring car such as 26 EX. (4) Such a demonstration car as 26EX, also sells the larger car by first making the customer interested. (5) 26EX, meets the requirements of the motoring enthusiast who, though he may be in a minority, he talks a lot and is listened to. signed SA/ et EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} | ||