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).
Comparative road test and weight comparison between car 19-EX and a Hispano 12-cylinder model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 27a\1\ Scan109 | |
| Date | 14th January 1933 | |
| Copy. To Whr.{Mr Wheeler} London Showrooms, Sr22/MLG.14.1.33 I called on Mr. de Viscaya and went with him to Hispano and picked up Mr. Louis Berkit and Mr. Doveley, the "Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}" of Hispanos, with a view to giving them a run on 19-EX, in return for their courtesy in letting the various people of Derby try the 12-cyl. I am glad to say that they were all very much impressed with the performance of this car. Three things seem to strike them over anything else. 1) The efficiency of the silencer 2) The silence of the back axle 3) The remarkable smoothness and yet precision of the steering. Mr. Louis Berkit was so impressed with the back axle that he asked me "why we now delivered our chassis without a back axle"! I thought this was rather good. Later on in the afternoon, they brought the 12 cyl. round and we went out in it with Roberts who handled the car himself. The idea was to go into the same course doing exactly the same thing as we had previously done in the morning with 19-EX. I am glad to say that the comparative tests tend to prove that we can do nearly everything as well with our car as they can with theirs and our car is undoubtedly much quieter all round than theirs. The comparative weights of the two cars are as follows:- 19-EX complete with three spare wheels, 12 gallons of petrol 2550 kgs = 50 cwts. 1 qr. Weight forward on axle 1190 = 23 " 2 qrs. Weight at rear axle 1350 = 26 " 2 qrs. Complete weight of the 12 cyl. Hispano in the same condition 2200 kgs. = 43 cwts. 2 qrs. (Sgd.) Sr. | ||