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).
Steering improvements and testing methodologies for high-speed driving on French roads.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 20\11\ Scan261 | |
| Date | 24th May 1928 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from BJ. to our ordinary standard, and we suggest that it is waste of time for the Works to test any new feature in future with bodies which are not similar to those which we all use so much and know so well. This is especially so in the case of springs which are always an extremely difficult item to judge. S. STEERING. PH, CHB., Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} and all of us agreed that 1 to 2½ is O.K., but it would be advantageous if some of the sponginess could be reduced. If this can be done without any great detriment, as the combination of the lower gear and the sponginess made steering at high speeds rather difficult in case of emergency or steering very accurately between the curb and a passing car for instance. We all greatly appreciate your endeavours to improve the steering, and by no means wish you to think that we are criticising, but only wish to give you our frank impressions, which summed up are:- (a). Our present standard is the best we know of for big cars. (b). 14-EX is in some respects more comfortable to drive but has the disadvantages mentioned above. (c). We do not know of any other large car on the market that has a better steering than our present standard for high speed on French roads. (d). As any car we sell may be used for crossing France at high speed, it is essential that all our cars should be suitable for this purpose. (e). We should use every endeavour to ascertain whether there is any other heavy car which has a good steering for high speed on French roads, and if necessary buy and thoroughly test a Bentley and a Lincoln. Anything which will help us in this respect is money well spent. We realise that these difficulties, which have arisen, are greatly due to the alteration in tyres. It is only a temporary difficulty which is to be studied to obtain the greatest safety and comfort. PH has suggested that you might like to see him on Wednesday to talk the matter over, in which case he would drive down on 14-EX and, if you think it would be desirable and | ||