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).
Road test report on an Essex-Terraplane car, noting its sweet engine but bad ride control and body issues.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 21\6\ Scan076 | |
Date | 24th September 1932 | |
V4217. Mr/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} The Essex - Terraplane Remarkable sweet running engine - no periods - T.R. as low as 9 m.p.h in top gear + starts rattle at about 57 on 2nd. - more like valves bouncing on seats than master period. Seems out of range on top gear. Performance for acceleration as good as Bentley. Speedy, but max. speed not attempted. Riding & road control bad. Bonnet concave customers putting up with this, do not consider makers would expect them to & that it is not up to standard, as some attention required. Positively dangerous to use brakes on uneven road at speed. Fumes in body - passenger generally complain. Flushing to rattle in drive bad at lower speeds - poor carburation. RB{R. Bowen} | ||