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).
Feedback from the Earl of Cottenham's works visit, with opinions on the Phantom III car.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 91\1\ scan0267 | |
| Date | 7th May 1936 | |
| Wor{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}/Hy{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} c. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Cx{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} X300 GRY{Shadwell Grylls} EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}13/MH.{M. Huckerby}7.5.36 re WORKS VISIT - EARL OF COTTENHAM ------------------------------- The above gentleman, with Captain Minchin and Mr. Colinson Owen, (whom we looked after and took round the Works on the 5th inst.) seemed very impressed and pleased with what he saw. He arrived rather late and left early, and would like to have spent more time; he said he will make a further request to Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} for another visit later. He expressed rather emphatic opinions in regard to our cars .- (1) That the road holding qualities of the Phantom III car were much better than any car he had ever tried. He was able to take corners at high speeds with perfect safety, which he could not do with the 4¼ litre Bentley. He put this down to the independent front springing on the Phantom III, and rather pushed the necessity of this type of springing being applied to the 4¼ litre Bentley as soon as possible. He expressed the view that unless this was done and shown at the next Olympia Show it could not be considered that this car was an advance and more saleable proposition than the 4½ litre Lagonda. (2) The Phantom III car, he considered, was under-geared, but in further discussing this point he agreed the best scheme on this car would be an over-riding gear. At the same time, he also felt sure we should shortly be increasing the bore of this engine, which would then give a definite advantage over the Hispano car. Although he agreed that at present the Phantom III car could hold its own with the Hispano as regards acceleration, etc., he was emphatic in the view that the Hispano would definitely pass it at high speed, which would definitely go against this car for Continental use. EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} | ||