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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]
  
  
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).


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