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).
Scope and arrangements for the 10,000 miles vehicle tests.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 148\5\ scan0011 | |
| Date | 29th September 1925 | |
| COPY. To CJ. from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to PN.{Mr Northey} c. to GW B. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}1/LG29.9.25. 10,000 MILES TESTS. CJL/E28.9.25. Are we to assume that the tests 1. 2 and 3 instructed in the above memo. are to be in addition, or part of the 10,000 miles tests? We recommend, based on our experience of all 10,000 miles tests, that the additional tests should be extra and not included in the 10,000 miles. The 10,000 miles tests in France should be looked upon as an over-load test and if a car will stand 10,000 miles at approximately 500 miles per day over rough roads, we have a certain guarantee that it will be free from mechanical failures. We have for a considerable time been remarkably free from mechanical failures on the cars in customers hands. The 20 HP. car, as a new model, has had surprisingly few mechanical failures. The 10,000 miles tests have helped us to achieve this. If the last 2,000 miles of the test is driven by a representative from the Sales Dept., then the over-load test can only be taken as 8,000 miles and although this is a reduction in mileage of 20%, we consider because it is the last 20%, it reduces the severity of the test by nearer 50%. We ask that the Expl: Dept: are allowed to complete the 10,000 miles over-load test in France, after which the car should be handed over to Sales to carry out whatever tests they wish. A better arrangement is your original scheme of what was then known as the Amateur Driver's car. Let it be arranged that the Sales have a duplicate of the the 10,000 miles test car so that it could be tested out in any manner they wish. There is a risk that if we attempt to do too much on one car, we shall actually achieve less. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||