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).
Letter from Charles Faroux providing road test feedback on a new 12-cylinder car.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 146\3\ scan0242 | |
| Date | 16th December 1936 guessed | |
| Dear Mr. Sleator, Hereunder, are the observations that I am glad to make, as a result of a road test of the new I2 cylinder R.R. car that you recently gave me the opportunity of testing. It is without doubt the best car which is in existence. I have above all, been struck with the great improvement of this car, compared with the first I2 cylinder that I tried over 12 months ago. The engine, which is particularly free from vibration at any speed, is distinguished by a high engine torque at slow speed, thus allowing for rapid acceleration. The steering is perfect, distinctly better than that of the PH.II and I know nothing that it is possible to compare it with. The same thing can be said about the suspension. This is astonishing as also are the brakes. All mechanical parts and their controls are remarkable by a high degree of precision and smooth action that have never been attained to my knowledge. It seems that at about 90 milles per hour (143/145 kilometres approximately) there is a vibration in the driving shaft. This is not surprising [crossed out] if one thinks of the power transmitted and the corresponding rotating speed. The absolute dynamic balance of this shaft can only be a temporary solution, without any real effect because the torsional efforts of a shaft of this length are high, as your engineers undoubtedly are aware. One will no doubt be tempted to design the shaft in two pieces and to take up the thrust on a cross member fitted in between the chassis. The increase in weight due to this cross member would not be very noticeable as the shortening of the rear shaft would allow one to reduce its weight considerably owing to the fact that its diametre could be reduced. This of course is not difficult to modify and when this is done the I2 cylinder R.R. will simply be admirable. The car is already an admirable car in spite of its weight. This can be driven with the same facility, the same precision and high degree of road security as the best of racing cars and owing to this fact the car has an enormous advantage over all the other cars of reputation amongst the large car series. sgd. Charles Faroux | ||