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).
30-mile test drive of a 40/50 10,000 miles production car.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 53\4\ Scan036 | |
| Date | 26th November 1923 | |
| "D" COPY. X4601 Experimental Report. Expl. No. 4601. Ref. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}2/LG26.11.23 To Hm.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} C. to EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} C. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} C. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} 12-EM. Re 40/50 10,000 MILES PRODUCTION CAR. I drove this car for about 30 miles. The impression it gave was very pleasing. To us it appears above the average judging from the 40/50 chassis we are using for four-wheel brakes. The engine is smooth and powerful, and except for the Magneto it would be silent. It is very free from piston knocks when starting from dead-cold. The chassis parts and spring shackles are very free from rattles. The worst feature on the car is the ineffective foot brake. The experience on experimental cars shows that the ineffective foot brakes on the 40/50HP. are due to the distorsion of the brake shoes, or unequal wear of the Ferodo. We have not yet had a case of ineffective braking which we have not been able to cure by setting the brake shoes. By this means we can make the brakes very effective with light pressures. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||