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).
Motor-car demonstration with innovative features like four-wheel steering and no axles, suggesting its potential interest to Mr. Royce.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 128\1\ scan0009 | |
| Date | 16th June 1925 | |
| [Handwritten notes top left] S/W(He) OJ. c. to PN.{Mr Northey} S/W. [Handwritten notes top center] Y-3531 [Typed header] CWB14/LH{Mr Haworth}16.6.25. Through a personal friend of mine, I was able to be present at a demonstration on Wednesday last, 10th June, of a motor-car possessing many very original features, in which, both from the method in which the technical ideas of the design had been carried out and from the actual behaviour and performance of the vehicle, I was exceedingly interested. The special features of the chassis are independent control and springing of each of the four wheels; all four wheels are driven and all four wheels are moved in steering. The car has no axles. On the road its behaviour is excellent, and there is a feeling of great stability when cornering, even taking a sharp corner very fast, once one is accustomed to the peculiar sensation which is quite different from that of the ordinary car. Pot-holes and quite large obstructions are hardly felt and there is no jar whatsoever on the steering, due to passing over these obstacles. The manoeuvrability is, of course, excellent. The car would appear to be built to go anywhere where the soil is such that the whole car does not sink in by its mere weight. I have been supplied with a complete description of this car and with some of the general arrangement drawings which may be of interest to Mr. Royce, and the designer, a Dutch engineer, Mr. A.A.Holle, would be only too pleased if Mr. Royce should be interested in it, even only from a technical point of view, to bring the car down for him to see and examine at any time. Perhaps you will consider the matter, which appears to be a very possible development of the motor-car, of sufficient interest to forward the enclosures to Mr. Royce. ENCL. OWB. [Handwritten initials and stamp] CWB. [Stamp: RECEIVED] | ||