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).
Report page on the performance of 12-cylinder American cars and recent technical advancements by General Motors.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 19\4\ Scan365 | |
| Date | 31th March 1932 | |
| -2- Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}1/MA.31.3.32.cont'd.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} The 12 Cylinder Cadillac performance was not nearly so impressive because the engine displacement was only 368 cu.ins., against 452 cu.ins. for the 16. The top speed is only just over 80 M.P.H. The engine appeared to be working harder all the time and could be felt more. This has almost always been our experience, a small engine will not do a big engines work without increase in fuss and roughness. Both these models are fitted with attractive bodies in a range of perhaps a dozen types. The importance of good appearance has been generally accepted in the U.S.A. These two cars sell at under 5,000 Dollars. The explanation of the price is that up till recently they have been able to produce 100 cars a day. The explanation of the technical excellence of the product is the engineering organisation behind it, which we indicate on the attached print, and the completely specialised companies with their technical staffs producing various component parts of the car. The proving ground has twenty three miles of private roads and three and threequarter miles of track. It has a large number of testers and several engineers. It is run day and night. It is well equipped with instruments of every sort. In a similar way General Motors research laboratory is equipped and staffed on a most lavish scale. Of the other 12 Cyl cars, the Lincoln has the best performance as it is the largest engine, the Pierce Arrow is probably slightly the smoothest and steers the best. The outstanding development on the 12 cyl engine during the past 12 months has been the elimination of fuss, roar, and mechanical noise that was so objectionable on the early Cadillacs and the Maybach. This improvement has been brought about mainly by :- (1) The production of the "resonance" type intake and exhaust silencers developed by General Motors Laboratory. (2) The automatic oil adjusted tappet developed by G.M. Laboratory. (3) Introduction of "Floating Power" engine mountings. | ||