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).
Road test report on a Barker-Beatonson All Weather car, detailing issues with the bodywork, performance and handling.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 71\1\ scan0254 | |
| Date | 16th November 1926 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} c. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} +8830 DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}1/M16.11.26. BARKER-BEATONSON ALL WEATHER. X.S 992 7-EX. X.8830 The writer took delivery of this car from Barkers late on Friday night, and drove it to WW. The body is now good, even better than when new. The windscreen still leaks water badly, and we are arranging for Barkers to correct this when the car calls there on its way to Derby. The front seat cushions have been re-stuffed to make the front seating dimensions correct. The writer preferred however to drive with the 1" packing still in, giving 8" under the wheel instead of 9". Referring to the chassis the chief feature seemed to be either an axle or a tyre noise. This improved somewhat towards the end of the run, and may-be accounted for by the change of road surface: in London the noise was very noticeable. Due to the bad weather - gale, and downpour of rain - the performance was difficult to judge. After 10-EX, the acceleration seemed poor. The car however came up Duncton at 30 - 35 m.p.h. in 3rd. gear. The servo knocks on coming off on some occasions, but not always. At full throttle openings, and approaching max. torque the engine thumps. The steering was good, though heavy compared with 10-EX due to the balloon tyres, which also appeared to skid very easily on wet roads. When the writer arrived at the coachbuilders none of the dipping head lamps or shutter controls had been erected, and these were fitted by Barkers to his instructions. As agreed with Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} on the 'phone on Friday it is proposed that this car should go to Derby when Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} is ready for it, (and after R.{Sir Henry Royce} has tried it,) to have such modifications made to the chassis as may be conjointly desired, and while passing through London Barkers should be allowed to correct the faults of the screen. DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} | ||