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 performance and features of the Essex 8 Cylinder Terraplane.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 21\6\ Scan078 | |
| Date | 10th October 1933 | |
| Jux 17. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} Mx{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer}6/T6.10.33. ESSEX 8 CYLINDER TERRAPLANE. The oustanding feature of this car is the smooth, quiet and flexible power unit. The absence of torque re-action effects and booming is remarkably good. Whilst we have obtained some benefit by isolation of the power unit, we have not achieved a result such as this. In view of the demand for quieter and more effortless propulsion and as apparently this result can be attained by more cylinders, it would seem that the 6 Cylinder engine is beginning to be a back number. "Apart from the power unit I did not find anything worthy of favourable comment. The stability and control of the car is poor, particularly at high speeds. The rear axle is not quiet. For night driving I found the constantly illuminated speedometer dial rather dazzling. The headlamp dimming switch on the dashboard is not easy to find and awkward to operate. [Signature] | ||