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).
Copy of a letter from Mr. Kleinwort providing feedback on a car's performance, including brakes, speed, and cockpit heat.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 19\1\ Scan212 | |
| Date | 1st July 1932 | |
| Copy of letter received from Mr. Kleinwort. ---- Your ref: Cx{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager}6/KW30.6.32. 20, Fenchurch Street, E.C. 3. 1st July, 1932. Dear Major Cox, Many thanks for your letter, which I have read with much interest. My criticism of the brakes is that when suddenly applied in an emergency it is almost impossible to prevent snatching, and that on such occasions the larger retardation on the back wheels causes these to lock and the car to skid round if the conditions are at all skiddy. If you apply the brakes of the 8-litre Bentley in an emergency, for instance, you will appreciate what I mean. Naturally, for your car I am taking as a standard, the ideal! With regard to the speed, now that most American cars that are over the cheap class are genuinely capable of over 80 miles an hour, I feel one is entitled to rather more than this from your Continental model. Did you notice that the 12-cylinder Lincoln was recently tested to cover the half mile by the Autocar at 95.7 miles an hour with a large saloon body and this has been increased in the Motor Test to 97.8? Incidentally, this 12-cylinder engine is quite the smoothest, quietest and most flexible engine I have ever met. The heat in the cockpit that I complained of emanated definitely from under the bonnet and the rear seats of the car were perfectly cool and the difference on changing to the front compartment was very marked. It was partly this that prompted my remarks about a freer exhaust system. I share your hope about a new car for my father before very long. Yours sincerely, (Sgd.) Ernest G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} Kleinwort. Major L.W. Cox, Messrs. Rolls-Royce Ltd., 14-15, Conduit St.{Capt. P. R. Strong}, W. 1. DK/LG. | ||