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 and review of car specimen 18-EX after 10,000 miles of use.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\T\January1929-February1929\ Scan124 | |
| Date | 6th February 1929 | |
| HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} (At Le CanadelHenry Royce's French residence.) C. to SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} WCR. C BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} CWD. PN.{Mr Northey} SECRET ORIG R2/M6.2.29. REC'D AT WW. 9.2.29. SS.{S. Smith} SPECIMEN 18-EX. Handwritten notes over text: X7770 X7800 X7600 X7830 X7005 This is the car that has done 10,000 miles in France, and altogether some few thousands more. It has a Barker close coupled 4 seater body with aluminium panels, and leather top, and is the finest car I have ever been in. For my use it is the best type of body. The engine and whole chassis has improved with running, and one hardly feels the engine, and it is remarkably silent when running (car standing) or at speed. We are running the car every day for a few hours in the mountains, and but for the secrecy would let it be seen on the Riviera, because it cannot help but attract much admiration. I should like to compliment Mr. Nutt on the bodywork: the doors are much thinner etc than on 19-EX. I believe it should be repeated for stock and the Show complete as it is with two small things altered: (1) perhaps it might be an inch or two wider, (2) also the toolbox is the wrong slope for the feet, being too nearly vertical. If moving the tools would give more leg room they should go somewhere else. Mr. Minchin stores his in any space separately until he only has a few flat things under the driver's seat. Mr. Hancock, after the very severe night experience, says he prefers the central separate lamp for night and fogs. Everyone says our old practice in side lights are too large and glaring. These are OK. on our test cars, also current should not be wasted. We did 81/82 MPH. in the moderately good piece of road less than a mile long, slightly uphill, still gaining. I have confirmed that 18-EX. as well as 19-EX. does not bang in the silencer, cutout open or closed: (cannot give reason, but most valuable). It jellies a little somewhere about 60 MPH. otherwise quite steady, and steers well. Engine mounting - front feet solid not bad, passenger feels nothing except exhaust vibrations with cutout open. I compliment Mr. Evernden especially on his work associated with the coachwork. The single piece screen is now thought better: we like sloping pattern. There is value in the work done on wings, lamps, trunks etc. These wheel carriers have done extraordinarily well compared with our earlier work, but are not quite right when it is desired to carry one wheel only. I am looking forward to seeing the 2nd. arrangement on the next car; perhaps this will have special short bolt for one wheel only, and generally arranged to keep the car as short as possible as regards rear number plates. For appearance there seems no need to lengthen the bonnet over the dash. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||