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 comparing a Phantom and a Bentley, detailing various performance characteristics and design features.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 89\1\ scan0232 | |
| Date | 4th January 1938 guessed | |
| -2- account for the difference in the speed reached. I was also extremely impressed with the braking which is infinitely superior to the Bentley, both in stopping power and smoothness, in fact one of the chief complaints I have about the Bentley is the flapping one gets at the front end when braking quickly at speed on a bad surface. I would much rather have to stop the Phantom in a hurry than the Bentley. I do not like the position of the gear change, and the clutch has the usual Derby defect, namely, it "judders" when reversing up hill. It is unfortunate that the shock-absorber control was not functioning correctly because it prevented me from using the shock-absorber in the full hard position. Actually I should have thought that it would have been an advantage if it were possible that the suspension should be rather stiffer when the control is right over to hard. The petrol consumption seems to be somewhere between 9 and 10 which makes it expensive, though probably in this respect you are in advance of the large American car. I found the noise made by the petrol pumps rather irritating as it was audible practically all the time. The complete absence of shimming on the front end of the car is very pleasant after the continual flap on the Bentley. There are some small and comparatively unimportant features which I could criticise. The screen-wiper behaved in the typically Lucas manner, and was very little use as a wiper. I think it is unfortunate that the radiator cap is only a dummy, as I find it hard to get used to opening the bonnet to put in water. The oil indicator is almost as difficult to read as the one on the Bentley, but not quite. The design of the mud-guarding seemed to be very ineffective as the whole car became smothered in mud after even a short run. I would prefer a definite reserve supply of petrol to the green light warning signal. The enormous amount of machinery under the bonnet makes it rather difficult to get at things. I am afraid this letter may be somewhat disjointed, but I have put down things as they come into my mind. To sum up the situation, I would like a car with the performance of the Phantom, but the size of the Bentley. I know it may be difficult with the so much smaller engine to | ||