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 initial road test and general impression of the new 'SS' chassis, comparing it to the Phantom.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 18\1\ Scan015 | |
| Date | 23th November 1928 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c.c. to BJ. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c.c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c.c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} +7840 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}3/LG23.11.28. 'SS{S. Smith}' CHASSIS. X.7770 +200 X.8840 X.7840 We have run this chassis on the road and the general impression is very pleasing. The silence of the engine when standing is equal to the present Phantom. There is a puffing noise from the inlet to the vacuum pump, but we have not yet connected this to the carburetter inlet. Tested as a chassis, the engine gives one the impression of being more smooth than the present Phantom. There are torque reaction vibrations, but they are not very noticeable. The gearbox silence is not up to the present Phantom standard. The clutch did not behave consistently - at times it would not disengage properly. This point is being attended to. The car was running with the present standard front axle. It had not the front brakes connected up. We attach the weight of the chassis compared with the first Phantom 'V' series. Since that time we have removed some weight off the Phantom. We will let you have strictly comparative weights later. There are one or two additions to go on the SS.{S. Smith} such as, step irons etc. We hope to mount the body, wings and valances this week, and to bring the car to WW. at the end of next week. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||