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).
Very poor assessment of a competitor's Isotta-Fraschini car, listing numerous faults.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\K\October1923\ Scan137 | |
| Date | 18th October 1923 | |
| TO GJ. FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} RE. ISOTTA-FRASCHINI. X4214 X4609 This car is a very poor one and I suggest we sell it before we soil it. The trouble appears to be with the head of the Technical Dept. rather than the juniors, or the Works construction. (1) It is quite hard work to drive it, the steering being heavy and affected by roughnesses on the road, due to imperfect geometry. (2) The clutch shudders as it takes up the drive. (3) The carburation is very poor at slow speeds, giving very poor acceleration, and at high engine speeds there is a terrific vibration which would I think end in a smashed crankshaft. This speed is easily reached on the 2nd gear, and may be touched on the top gear at high speeds. (4) The brakes are very poor, requiring very heavy foot pressure, and even then it is doubtful if the front brakes do much towards pulling up the car; at slow speeds the car is difficult to pull up as well as difficult to steer, and very difficult to accelerate, so that it is a bad traffic car. (5) According to HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} the consumption was extremely bad, being about 9.M.P.G. (6) The workmanship and finish appears to be excellent and the appearance under the bonnet very attractive to the uninitiated. (7) It is very difficult to keep the engine temperature correct, there being no louvres, thermostat, or thermometer. (8) The electrical equipment is by the German Bosch, and seems satisfactory except that it is disappointing in the action of the starter which was expected to be much more silent than this application shewed. As predetermined by me it appeared that the starter system would be good for engagement, but not well provided for disengagement. Something of the sort seems to be the facts in practice. Naturally most of these notes are from Mr.Hives' observations and demonstrations. Mr. Hives is quite sensible in suggesting "Hispano" but I was very interested in 8 cyls. in line, and should still like to see a good specimen of this type if anyone could suggest one. HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} thinks Hispano our dangerous competitor. PN.{Mr Northey} might say what he would advise. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||