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).
The trial and comparison of a Cadillac and a 21-G-IV car in France.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 5a\4\ 04-page214 | |
| Date | 14th January 1925 | |
| To Sq. from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. to Mor. c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to Ry. c. to Wx. c. to Lm. Trial of Cadillac and 21-G-IV in France. We drove these two cars alternately from Boulogne to Paris and subsequently drove them in and around Paris, covering a good deal of main road pave such as the Paris-Sevres-Versailles road, and also negotiating certain wavy stretches of road outside the town which were considered were particularly difficult for springing at high speeds. As a result of these tests our conclusions were as follows :- (1) It is quite useless trying the Cadillac over French roads unless a standard car is also present as a yard stick of a normal car's behaviour. In the Cadillac it was quite impossible to believe that any road that we went on was really bad. (2) The biggest difference between the springing of the Cadillac and 21-G-IV is in the front seat ride. (3) The most noticeable contrast between the two cars is the complete absence in the Cadillac of body noises and rattles. Actually the back seat ride in 21-G-IV is not very much worse than that of the Cadillac considering the difference in size and weight of the two cars. When driving over pave, however, there is continuous noise in 21-G-IV which gives one the impression that the suspension is no good at all. (4) There is rather more difference between the Cadillac and 21-G-IV in the back seats at high speeds than at low speeds owing to the Cadillac being less prone to pitch. With the ride control anywhere more than the half way position, 21-G-IV is uncomfortable in the back. The Cadillac rides remarkably well at top speeds on a good main road. (5) When cornering on pave it was at once apparent that the Cadillac rear axle holds the road better than 21-G-IV. | ||