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 engine design and performance of American car manufacturers.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 153\4\ scan0139 | |
| Date | 10th December 1942 guessed | |
| Now we come to the American. (7) You would find him most stimulating, even if you disagreed with his "proofs". I will try to condense his argument ① Buick & Packard changed from 6's to 8's in the late twenties & have never regretted it ② Lincoln tried the 60° V-8 (with 180° cranks) which gave an out-of-step firing order which could be felt on a dead-smooth road Then they fitted 12 cyls. but kept to s/s conn. rods & steered away from the exact 60° angle - so "achieving" uneven firing intervals again. That was the really "custom" Lincoln 7372 c.c. 95 mph now superceded by Zephyr - which yet again perpetuates the peculiar V-angle 75° this time. The latest 1942 Lincoln Zephyr weighs nearly 2 tons Its engine gives 130 BHP from 4 3/4 L. Its actual mph, acceleration & hill climbing are beaten by the V-8 mercury - also a Lincoln-sponsored product which sells at little more than half the price | ||