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).
Performance and comparison report on a Pierce Arrow 6-cylinder sedan.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 24\5\ Scan285 | |
| Date | 22th July 1930 guessed | |
| PIERCE ARROW. ======== This car was one of the latest 6 cylinder models. It was a seven seater Sedan, weighing 5,300 lbs. ready for the road. It had covered 900 miles. COOLING. - The standard test at 60 M.P.H. carried out, shewed this car to be definitely inferior to the Phantom II to a very considerable extent, actually more than 10º C, both with and without bonnet ventilation. In view of this fact and the small fan on the PIERCE ARROW it was not considered worth while carrying out the lower speed tests. Full details of the cooling system are attached. From these, the gear ratio and the engine displacement, we consider the results are to be expected. PERFORMANCE. - The speedometer, as will be seen from the calibration, is less inaccurate than most fitted to American cars, but is about 10% fast at 70 M.P.H. The actual maximum speed of the car over the half mile was 69.23 M.P.H. The acceleration, as one would expect from the displacement/ton mile, is very good. Starting from 10 M.P.H. in top gear the PIERCE ARROW is one length ahead of the Phantom II at 40 M.P.H., maintains this lead to 50 M.P.H. and then is overtaken until at just over 60 M.P.H. the two cars are again level. From 10 - 20 M.P.H. there is little between the cars so that actually one length is gained between 20 - 40 M.P.H. The engine detonates at low speed full throttle SUSPENSION. - This is typically American and most unpleasant. | ||