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).
Secret memo discussing test results for a Phantom III 33-EX demonstration car, including brake seizure issues and a speed comparison against a P.II.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 91\1\ scan0068 | |
| Date | 18th September 1935 | |
| SECRET. To Mr. From Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Copy to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}E.Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} re P.III 33-EX. 8g1/H18.9.35 I am writing to you because I understand that you have the preparation of this and the other two demonstration cars in hand. The car has been tried by Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} and myself separately. Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} drove it 240 miles over the week-end, has made out a fairly long report and, therefore, I think the best way is for you to read this in conjunction with my covering remarks. For clarity's sake I have numbered the paragraphs in his report. I want it to be realised that, whilst we have some criticisms to make, generally speaking, we feel that, when the points in question have been overcome, we shall have a very fine car. Please read Cx{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager}'s report before reading the remainder of this memo. Paragraphs 2 and 9. These should be taken together. The fact that the back brakes seized up when the car was fully loaded is very bad and requires immediate investigation. It indicates that the Experimental Dept. should see that cars in France are run for at least part of their time with a full load. By this I mean full passengers and luggage, or the equivalent thereof in dead weight. I should be glad to have the result of the investigation as to the cause of this trouble after it has been made. Paragraph 3. We sent the car down to Brooklands yesterday together with our 7-seater P.II Pullman limousine and made comparative tests under exactly the same conditions for maximum speed. It was found that the P.III was only one mile an hour faster than the P.II. This is not to be taken so much as complaint as a query to know whether this is the most that we are to expect or whether, as the car becomes more developed, you expect the maximum speed to be increased. So far as acceleration is concerned, there is no doubt | ||