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).
The road behaviour and faults found in a new limousine model following a short road test.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 178\4\ img057 | |
| Date | 29th April 1932 | |
| SECRET. To R.{Sir Henry Royce} From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Eg. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to Ha. c. to Fy. J.S. This car is now fitted up complete with enclosed limousine body, and has been run on the road 2 or 3 miles. The general appearance of the car is very pleasing. As one would expect, however, it is very difficult to distinguish it from one of the latest 25 H.P. cars. As regards the behaviour on the road, the following are our comments :- ENGINE. - This suffers from the same faults as were reported on the test bed. There is the crankshaft period, the tappets are noisy especially warming up. The carburetters are noisy (This engine is fitted with two single non-expanding type). The performance is fair, it should be better. At the moment we have no value for the loss in the exhaust system. CLUTCH. - This is the type which has the rubber coupling incorporated in the driving disc. The clutch at times judders very badly. We cannot at the moment say what is the cause of this. SHOCK ABSORBERS. - These are the single valve type. So far there is no hand control on them and there are no parts ready. The shock absorbers make a lot of noise. The cause of this is being investigated. STEERING. - One can appreciate that this car has a much better steering lock than the cars we are at present producing. The steering is not entirely free from shocks. FRAME JELLYING. - The car is reasonably free from jellying. The frame appears even less still than our present Diamond mounted cars. If one wheel is jacked up the bonnet gapes about ¼". PETROL PUMP. - We have had a lot of trouble with the petrol pump. There is no reason why this should not be made to work satisfactorily. ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT. - We are using 25 H.P. generators. The rest appears to be satisfactory. | ||