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).
Page discussing car design principles related to weight distribution, handling, and safety.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 24\1\ Scan039 | |
| Date | 12th December 1931 guessed | |
| 5. in the resistance co-efficient. The main variations possible being at the front end as this can be made in bonnet form or entirely sloping. Having, therefor, the rough outline of the car as determined by aerodynamic considerations, the next step is to see how the engine transmission and other mechanical features can be fitted into the general design. In Fig 111 the space C.D. is reserved for the engine and transmission, and whilst there may be several possible arrangements, it must be realised that whatever arrangement is used, accessibility and ease of service are matters of prime importance. Before considering these questions, it will be pertinent to ascertain the desirable weight distribution of the car as a whole, as this will determine on which side of the back axle the engine should be placed. I shall not be contradicted in stating that the overall weight distribution governs the efficiency of the springing, affects pitching during braking and acceleration, and largely governs the skidding propensities of the car whilst turning or braking. In fact, it is not too much to say that the whole question of road-holding and comfort depends primarily upon the weight distribution. What do we want ? In a car of orthodox design the position of the centre of gravity is usually midway between the front and rear wheel positions so that under static conditions the load on each of the four wheels is about equal. It appears to me however that the factor which should govern design is the maximum margin of safety in that emergency conditions which occurs so many times in the life of every car under modern conditions, and that the criterion should be maximum road holding capacity when the brakes have to be jambed on hard when travelling at high speed perhaps on a greasy road. It is | ||