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).
Assessment report on a second-hand 1940 Austin 8 car.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 124\4\ scan0010 | |
| Date | 22th December 1940 | |
| To Em. from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/AA.{D. Abbot-Anderson} 1045 Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/AA.{D. Abbot-Anderson}1./22.12.40. AUSTIN 8. I tried one of these cars from Messrs. Cripps & Co., Nottingham, this morning. The car was a 1940 model delivered in 1939. Mileage 19,070 miles. STEERING. The steering was heavy and unpleasant. The tyre pressures were O.K. BRAKES. Very poor, the pedal going to the floorboards. Relining would be necessary to make braking really efficient, as there is not much adjustment left. CLUTCH. Juddered badly on moving off and then developed severe slip on top gear. GEARS. Gear changing was noisy, bottom gear being very bad. SHOCK DAMPERS. Piston type. They were not acting at all. TRANSMISSION. A bad knock. A tooth missing in the crown wheel, I think, is the answer. BATTERIES. 6 volt. Looked in very bad condition. BODY. Externally not too bad, but internally very dirty. Of the two door type. Retail price: £185 (£180 to us). Their representative said that they would be prepared to clean the car up and put it in good running order, but as he seemed to think that the knock in the transmission was noticeable in all Austin cars, I do not think their idea of putting it in order would suit us, so I have informed them that I feared the car was not suitable. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/AA.{D. Abbot-Anderson} | ||