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).
Impressions from short test runs of Hispano-Suiza, Napier, Lanchester, and Packard cars at the Olympia Show.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 127\1\ scan0111 | |
| Date | 11th November 1920 | |
| X435 To D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} from Dr. a.{Mr Adams} to CJ. b. to WGR. c. to BN.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} d.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} to HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} e.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} to EFC. ----------- DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}1/AH11.11.20 [STAMP: RECEIVED NOV 12 1920] Whilst at the Olympia Show I had a short run on each of the following cars :- X.4214 HISPANO-SUIZA X.437 NAPIER X.441 LANCHESTER X.435 12 CYL. PACKHARD A short run like this, of course, does not prove very much, especially as one is not allowed to drive the car oneself, but I thought these few impressions might be of some slight interest. I could have tried the new 8 cylinder Isotta-Fraschini and one or two others if I had stayed another day, but I thought it probably not worth while. HISPANO-SUIZA. This car started easily and very quietly. It appeared to have plenty of power and acceleration, and was very smooth and regular in running. The engine was distinctly harsher and noisier than Rolls Royce, and had several periods which, at times, caused vibrations to be felt both back and front. Running light it had considerable tappet knocks and noises which appeared to come from the camshaft drive. In this respect it was distinctly worse than Rolls Royce. The engine was also noisier at speed. The springing appeared to be fairly good, but I could not try the car over specially selected roads. The outstanding feature was the brakes which were extremely powerful and smooth acting. I should think that they were much more powerful than the average Rolls Royce, and very much more powerful than any of the other cars which I tried. On more than one occasion they were very suddenly applied on a road that was not very smooth and there was no sign of jaggering at all. The gearbox appeared to be rather good for noise, and I could not distinguish any marked transmission knocks or noises from the transmission generally, but, of course, the London streets are not very suitable for judging these noises. The steering was fairly light and self-centering, but I should think not so nice as the Rolls Royce. NAPIER. This car had a covered body. The engine was harsher and noisier than the Hispano-Suiza, and much more than the Rolls Royce. There was, at one speed, a vibration which could be felt in the back of the car very distinctly. Running light the engine was worse than the Hispano-Suiza and had a distinct knock due to the camshaft drive. In the case of none of these cars was it possible to try the maximum speed, but this car also appeared to have good power and acceleration. It also | ||