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).
Performance issues and public perception of the experimental car 10-EX.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 70\1\ scan0130 | |
| Date | 15th August 1927 | |
| 18774 To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from BJ. c. to R.{Sir Henry Royce} BJL/D15.8.27. Thank you for Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/RM{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}4/LG9.8.27 which Dodd gave to me at Frinton yesterday (Sunday). He arrived there on Sunday evening. In some respects I like the running of 10-EX, but was not greatly impressed with her pick-up owing to a considerable vibration. I suppose the 16-tooth axle is necessary to obtain the very high speed; on the other hand I presume it considerably retards the pick up and this is always a point that impresses customers almost more than high speed. The heat in the front and back are very excessive; it is a pity there are no ventilators. I wonder if anything can be done by fitting shields over the exhaust pipes? The tyre noise is tremendous and reminds me of the early days of driving a De Dion Car on low gear; it does away with all the pleasantness of driving the car and one might just as well be driving a car with a shrieking gearbox or back axle. Can nothing be done by the Tyre Manufacturers to help us? I should like to become more familiar with this car and keep it here for a few weeks, also to make some tests with petrol as we can never depend on owners of these cars always using a benzole mixture. I should also like to try the car on Brooklands against one of our ordinary touring cars as regards acceleration and high speeds. Can we keep the car here for a few weeks and would you like Dodd to be present whilst the tests are being made at Brooklands? It is an extremely important matter whilst we are considering whether this car should be sold to the public that we should know all about it. It would be a misfortune for this car to be seen about in public much for two reasons:- (1) It might get about that we are producing a speed model and stop our sales of our present standard model; (2) We realise that it is extremely difficult to carry the back wheel, tools, etc. behind the back seat, (although it is necessary) and still make the car look beautiful. We realise that this car is only an experiment and we are hopeful of being able to improve its appearance. The rest of the body in front of the great bulbous lump at the back gives an excellent impression of speed and is very attractive. | ||