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).
Increasing horsepower for 20 HP and 40/50 HP models for the Australian market, weighing against altering the back axle ratio.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 72\2\ scan0021 | |
| Date | 31th August 1927 | |
| Whr.{Mr Wheeler} London. C. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Derby Hm.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} " I.P. " C.W.B. London. Recent modifications to both 20 H.P. and 40/50 H.P. have undoubtedly made them far more suitable for Australian conditions and, what is more important, far more attractive to Australian users, but there is one direction in which I think we should endeavour to make still further improvement, and that is horse power. Owing to lower back axle ratio, American cars costing much less are still giving us a hiding on hilly roads, and unless were are prepared to lower our back axle ratio with the many attendant disadvantages, we shall have to get a little more ginger out of our engines. I am strongly averse to lower back axle ratio with higher engine revs. if same can possibly be avoided, but I should most certainly like to see both our models better able to hold their own on top gear when climbing and in accelerating. Cannot something be done in this direction? [Stamped across text: COPY] | ||