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).
6,000-mile road test report on a Cadillac, detailing its performance and handling on various road conditions.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 125\2\ scan0179 | |
| Date | 10th December 1934 | |
| X17299 Hotel de France, Chateauroux, Indre. France. To. Mr. From GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} c. WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} W. c. HY.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. HH. 10th December 1934. 6,000 MILES REPORT ON CADILLAC. A diversion of the route to Chateauroux was taken to obtain the riding, steering and general behaviour of the car on the pavé roads similar to those experienced in Belgium. The riding and steering was so steady on the bad pavé roads, that it was almost impossible to realise what the conditions of the roads were like. One could be travelling at 60 or 80 miles per hour on a good road and, keeping the same speed, strike a really rough pavé road, with only the rumbling of the car to indicate that you were travelling on it. It made not the slightest difference to the steadiness of the steering. To one used to the usual discomforture on such roads, the results were astounding. A very distinctive feature was the absence of rear axle dither on the rough roads. We have since found that the roll rod is an important item in this respect, combined with the lower tyre pressures that are being run with this car. The absence of engine and transmission noise inside the body while travelling was exceptionally good. The road holding was good on the even cambered roads, but when getting out of the gutter and cornering on the wet roads, it had a great tendency to swing over. It was not so noticeable later with dry roads. We proceeded to the Montlhéry track, and the following are the figures taken. For five laps the car maintained a timed speed of 88.8 MPH. conditions being good. The speedometer during these laps was reading 95 MPH. Standing start through gears to 80 MPH. speedometer reading - 31 seconds. Acceleration from 10 MPH. to 80 MPH. speedometer reading in top gear - 30 3/5 seconds. PROGRESSIVE ACCELERATION IN TOP GEAR. Speedometer. Seconds. 10 to 20 4 20 " 30 4 1/5 30 " 40 4 40 " 50 4 50 " 60 5 60 " 70 6 1/5 70 " 80 | ||