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).
Responding to criticisms about a car's performance, specifically engine roughness and front spring issues during testing in France.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 82\3\ scan0185 | |
| Date | 10th April 1935 | |
| +200a (3) HOTEL DE FRANCE CHATEAUROUX, Indre. France. 10th April 1935. To Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} From G.W.H. 5 B IV. Your Memo. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} I4/KW of 8/4/35 received. Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} has evidently not informed you of his criticisms. In the first place, Cox tried the car and his remarks were, front was too lively and the car could not be controlled without maximum damping; Engine vibrations very bad, thumping of front brakes very bad, no benefit of acceleration with the high compressive head. He apparently reported to Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} these faults, and when we saw Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} the following morning, the first words were, why had we fitted the weak springs on the front, and he would not accept any reports on the steering, braking, etc., until we had fitted standard front springs. With regard to the engine roughness he was very annoyed and wanted to know the reason of fitting a new crankshaft, had the car been to Brooklands for test, and he turned the car down and said he would not let it go to France. He tried the engine stationary and compared it with Bentley's Car which happened to be there. The comparison did not show up so much with the Car stationary. In reply I said, the front springs were fitted to save weight and softer riding. The crankshaft was experimental and experience was needed for wear, oil temperatures, etc., Tests on the Montlhéry Track was our usual routine. He therefore changed his mind and decided to let the car go, after I explained that standard front springs were being sent out. We therefore with the knowledge that we must not over rev the engine, went to Montlhéry. The question of the big end bearings we dismissed, as we had used the engine on the way down carefully, and had given it bursts of speed on the way to Paris, oil temperature never reaching more than 85°c. The run on the Track was to us disappointing, as although we were prepared to limit the engine revs, we found that the maximum the engine would do was 4650. | ||