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 from 'The Autocar' magazine for the Atalanta vehicle, including diagrams and performance review.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 128\3\ scan0041 | |
| Date | 28th April 1939 | |
| 728 File for Prm The Autocar April 28th, 1939. " The Autocar " Road Tests Front Track 4'5" Wheelbase 10'0" Rear Track 4'6" (Diagram with measurements: 5'5", 14'8", 18", 40", 5 1/2", 47", 49", 43", 34 1/2") The suspension that gives this remarkable road-worthiness consists of coil springs disposed vertically for the front wheels and horizontally for the rear. There is an excellent impression of balance, and the car corners with scarcely a trace of swaying tendency, holding a dead-accurate course close to the edge of the road. In this state of affairs the steering shares, for although never heavy, it keeps the driver completely in touch with the front wheels in exactly the right way. Only 2 1/2 turns of the wheel are needed from lock to lock. There is singularly little need to concentrate upon keeping the car straight ; only a light finger hold of the wheel is necessary. Good self-centring action is evident, and no road-wheel movements are passed back to the steering. Comfort and Stability Well Combined Whilst this independent suspension is applied to the Atalanta with other objects in mind than riding comfort alone, and is firm rather than soft in effect, it is also a very comfortable system. Pitching tendency is virtually absent, and this car suggests that it is sprung in the true sense of the term, without any corresponding disadvantage—from the viewpoint of fast driving—of undue softness. Also, on rough semi-surfaced byways deliberately traversed during the test the riding comfort proved to be exceptionally good. Road-wheel movement may be heard to be taking place, but is not felt by the occupants. As to braking, very big-diameter magnesium-alloy drums are employed, and the application is hydraulic. A fair pressure is required for full braking power, but in the ordinary way the operation is light enough, and they are strikingly smooth-acting brakes which can be used confidently at full power when required. A slightly unusual but decidedly comfortable driving position is provided. The slope of the back rest of the separate front seat gives something of a reclining position, and a big-diameter spring-spoked wheel is brought out to meet the driver, as it were. It proves a comfortable and confident position, and the exceptional vision afforded of both wings is valuable in further increasing confidence. Although the wheelbase is soft, and it is thus not a small car, in restricted conditions the Atalanta feels considerably smaller than it is. A special type of hand-brake lever is mounted in a thoroughly convenient position between the seats. It is secured to its ratchet only when the knob is depressed, and released by sliding the knob out. Two examples of the Atalanta have been tried, one an early version which had seen much hard service and on which the road work was carried out and the accompanying performance figures recorded. The second car was a new example of the latest type, not run in, that was inspected and tried briefly in order that note might be taken of the detail improvements incorporated since the first car was built. With due allowance for petrol, the tested weights of the two cars were identical within a quarter of a hundredweight, the more recent model proving to be the lighter. Overall Height of Car 4'9" (Diagram with measurements: Door Gap 33", 38", 31", 16", 20", 18", 16 1/2", 20", 8", 11 1/2", 4 1/2", 15", 19") Seat Adjustment Rear Axle Position Seating dimensions are measured with cushions and squabs compressed. An enlarged body is a major point, and various items of equipment and detail arrangement that could be criticised on the older car have received attention in the natural course of development of a new make. There is a wide single door at each side. The rear seats are comfortably upholstered, and leg-room is increased by means of shallow foot-wells. The instrument layout is good, and includes an engine thermometer, the lighting of the dials for night driving being translucent. There is a cubby hole locker with a lid{A. J. Lidsey} and key, a driver-operated rear window blind control is fitted, and a centre-locked sliding roof of good area is provided. In the tail is a luggage compartment of useful capacity. A 12-volt battery is fitted under the bonnet. The head lamps give a good beam. The engine has an accessible oil filler carried high centrally, and the level is shown by a float-operated pointer. It starts at once and pulls well straight away from cold with little use of the mixture control. A reserve petrol tap is not fitted, but the tank is of 22-gallon capacity, giving a wide range. The radiator filler cap is mounted externally. ATALANTA Remarkable vision of both wings is a notable point, and also general vision over the bonnet is good. The windscreen is wide, but "top view" is somewhat cut off, due to its fairly acute rearward slant. Its right-hand pillar, in particular, is seen to be thick. 8 | ||