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).
Road test report on the 'Goshawk' 11 chassis (X4219), comparing its performance to the 40/50 HP model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 180\M1\1\ img041 | |
| Date | 29th August 1921 | |
| G II 2nd Engine 1st Chassis - Road test report To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to C.J. c. to K.{Mr Kilner} c. to D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to RF. ORIGINAL Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}2/LG29.8.21. 'GOSHAWK' 11. X4219 We have run this chassis about 100 miles on the road. The chassis was run with a Test Body and without a windscreen. The chassis is not yet in a state to criticise the details of running but we were able to judge how the essential units performed compared with the 40/50 H.P. Engine. We feel very confident that the engine will be more silent than the 40/50 engine. It will be more silent because the valve gear is quieter and the fact of having no magneto, gets rid of one source of noise. The pistons, because of being smaller diameter, should be more easy to keep quiet. We cannot distinguish any marked vibration but it needs a complete car before this could be decided. We were very pleased with the fact, that although the car was geared 4 to 1 and some parts we were running 65 M.P.H. 3000 R.P.M., the engine did not appear fussy. Clutch. The clutch worked exceedingly well. During the run it certainly behaved on all points better than the best 40/50 clutch. It gave a very smooth engagement. It was free and the ease in changing gear was very good; there were no signs of jaggering. Brakes. Both brakes worked excellently. It was possible with either brake to lock the rear wheels without any undue effort. The braking effect was much smoother than we get on the 40/50. We tried jamming the brakes hard on when going over a bumpy road; the back of the car seemed to be skidding straight along and did not bounce and dither like we frequently get complaints of on the 40/50 H.P. Steering. The steering was excellent. There was practically no shock felt on the steering wheel at all. Springing. The chassis was rather lightly loaded for the springs which were fitted. We felt that friction dampers would improve it considerably. These, of course, contd:- | ||