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).
Test report on a 5 Litre Supercharged Mercedes, comparing it to the Phantom III.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 22\5\ Scan159 | |
| Date | 29th November 1935 | |
| To E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} From Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Les.{Ivan A. Leslie} X1080 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Les.6/MJ.29.11.35. 5 LITRE MERCEDES SUPERCHARGED. Lp.{Mr Lappin} managed to borrow one of the above cars for us to try. Except for the maximum speed and acceleration on the direct top gear, which were slightly superior to Ph.III, this car is vastly inferior in every detail. The suspension of the car was very poor. This was chiefly handicapped by the weak frame, which was continually wearing. The highest gear box ratio is indirect. The change speed mechanism for both this gear and direct is made by Maybach dogs. The use of the clutch not being necessary. The Maybach dogs did not always operate first time. When changing into indirect top gear a long wait was necessary for the engine to slow down. If the wait was not sufficient no gear is engaged, so that the engine runs up to maximum revolutions in neutral. The noise and effort required when using the supercharger, made this part of the car extremely unpleasant to use. With the method used for the rear wheel suspension the tyre scrubbing is sufficiently bad on full rebound, to prevent the rear spring deflection from returning to normal when the back of the chassis has been lifted from the ground. It is necessary to move the car before the rear comes down to the normal position. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/I.A.Leslie. | ||