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).
Customer complaints about ride comfort, pitching, and damper performance on 20/25 Hp models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 106\1\ scan0356 | |
| Date | 11th September 1935 | |
| - 2 - Hd{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy}/SB{Mr Bull/Mr Bannister}11/HR.11.9.35. Continued:- type of body in which the rear passengers sit forward of the rear axle, but these bodies are only favoured by the Owner-driver. We consider that one of the most pressing features of the 20/25 Hp. which requires improvement is the standard of riding in the rear seats because any customer quickly becomes dis- satisfied with his car, no matter how perfect the chassis, if he cannot ride in comfort. It seems that a wholesale re-distribution of weight is urgently called for in order to reduce pitching and to get the rear passengers in front of the axle in cars having a limousine type of body. We think a lot could be done in educating coach-builders as to the type of body and seating which may be expected to give comfortable riding. Most people expect to ride in Rolls- Royce cars with more comfort than in other makes of cars, but there is a definite tendency to criticise our cars by comparison with others. A feature of the governor controlled dampers which many people complain about is that with the control in the minimum position the damping is inadequate to prevent pitching, but when it is moved from the minimum position to say, half way, the riding immediately becomes much too "jolty". This complaint can be overcome to a large extent by introducing a suitable leak in the damper valve, similar to what we used to have on the old type dampers. This has been demonstrated to Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Les.{Ivan A. Leslie} on Lady Guthrie's car, GAF-23, the riding of which is a serious cause for complaint by the Owner. Hd{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy}/SB.{Mr Bull/Mr Bannister} | ||