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).
The 8400-mile road test of the 'SS' car, detailing its performance and identified issues.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 65a\2\ scan0169 | |
| Date | 2nd January 1929 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} } FROM Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} To WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} } X7770 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}1/LG.2.1.29. 'SS{S. Smith}' CAR - S E C R E T. X7770 X7230 X7941 X7010 We have heard by telegram that the SS.{S. Smith} car has now completed 8400 miles in France. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} has just returned from Chateauroux after taking the 20 HP. car. The general opinion after 8400 miles running is that the car is a very definite improvement over any previous Phantoms which have run 10,000 miles. The engine is wonderfully smooth and the improvement in springing can be greatly appreciated. They have been running with high tyre pressures in front which has the effect of reducing the vibration on the front of the car. Briefly the troubles with the SS.{S. Smith} are :- (1) Vibrations on the front of the frame. This, as we wired you, can be overcome by bolting the front engine feet solid, but when this is done engine vibrations can be felt on the car. (2) Exhaust system. This will have to be modified. In the first place it is noisier than the present system. Also on 18-Ex car in France the pipes have burnt through in several places owing to the fact that they were lagged and had received no special treatment. We find also that we are getting considerable distortion in the sheet-metal manifold and in the pipe between the manifold and silencer. We do not fear that there should be any difficulty in overcoming these troubles. (3) The trouble with the starter motor and the contd :- | ||