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).
Multi-day road test report detailing a car's performance and issues encountered.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 88\2\ scan0052 | |
| Date | 7th September 1934 guessed | |
| -2- The car contained two people and 240 lbs of luggage. The first day's run across France was done in torrential rain, which practically never stopped. This severe test only produced one very small leak at the corner of the windscreen, the sunshine roof being perfectly water-tight. Mud was, however, splashed over the engine and the front side of the dashboard. The windscreen wipers work rather slowly for this type of rain. * See photograph "A" The car ran very well, but on cambered roads and on corners one felt the overhung weight of the luggage, making it more of an effort to control the car. On bad pave the car was very objectionable - the wings, lamps etc being very unsteady and the weakness of the frame in front causing the bonnet and body to rattle. This is the worst feature of the car in my opinion. The second day was also very wet, and after a short time the windscreen wiper cable broke, putting both the windscreen wipers out of action. The roads had many corners, and working the windscreen wiper by hand became very tiresome. This is a most annoying thing to happen on a tour and is a big job to put right, as the cables are buried in the body. The third day brought out the best of the car, and the way it climbed the various passes was a revelation, and I have never been on a car which made these roads appear so ordinary. The weather was not hot -- 60° to 65°. The water temperature never rose above 78°. It was a very enjoyable day's run, the cornering, the gearbox, acceleration, and handiness of the car enabled one to appreciate the scenery without the effort usually associated with driving over these twisting and hilly roads. The fourth day included the Stelvio Pass with its forty hairpin corners on the way up, and there was never any doubt of getting round with quite a lot to spare. The air temperature was 65° and the highest water temperature was 80°. The acceleration between the corners was excellent in spite | ||