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).
Driving impressions, suspension settings, and comparisons with competitor vehicles.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 179b\3\ img132 | |
| Date | 1st April 1933 | |
| To The. -2- Srl/Crm,1.4.33. The first very definite impression one has, I am pleased to say, is the noticeable difference in the spring-ing with these dampers, when they are set at the minimum and then at the maximum positions. This is most apparent. The next impression, when one begins to gather speed on the maximum position, is the difference in the steering, which seems to be 'mollier', and yet to all intents and purposes remains just as positive as when the front Hartfords are taken up. After covering quite a lot of ground over varied surfaces, round 'S' bends, etc., I, personally, am of the opinion that the car, although perfectly controllable at high speeds, does not give one that impression of absolute security which is so remarkable when the Hartford shock absorbers are slightly taken up (see paragraph 2). I wish to make myself quite clear on this point. The utmost pressure on the gauge, when running on the maximum position, was 24 lbs., which leads one to presume that, if this pressure were to be increased a little more, so as to get a slightly higher poundage in the front shock absorbers, the desired result would be obtained. By this, I mean the effect produced (see paragraph 2). On the other hand, for the every day, or normal driver, one can safely state that there would be exceedingly few complaints, if cars were delivered with these automatic-ally controlled shock absorbers working to the pressures when we were out with the car, i.e. 24 lbs at 70 M.P.H. onwards on the maximum reading. Quite apart from official reports, I think that points of interest to you are the following :- Two of the customers who handled the car were amateur racing drivers, being in the habit of running Alfa Romeos and 4.9 Bugattis. They were both amazed with the road holding propensi-ties of the car, also the steering, and have both definitely stated the road'holding qualities to be better than on the 4.9 Bugattis. Before making the latter statement, they took this car over their particular courses, and handled it in exactly the same manner as they would have done their Bugattis. The bends were taken at the same speeds, and the exceedingly undulating and cambered roads were negotiated at the highest speeds it was possible to take with their Buggatti cars. On another occasion, the flying kilometre on the Arpajon road was covered in 25 secs, under ideal weather conditions | ||