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 for the 'No. 1 Spectre Trial' detailing various mechanical issues.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 91\1\ scan0019 | |
| Date | 15th July 1935 | |
| S/W (Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}) S E C R E T. x300 CX{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager}3/ES.15.7.35. c. to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} No. 1 SPECTRECodename for Phantom III TRIAL. Shortly after leaving W. on Friday evening I found the dynamo not charging - fuse had blown. Replaced fuse, charging O.K. The slow running was very bad. I believe engine was misifiring at slow speeds. This never improved throughout the 340 odd miles of running. The steering I found very stiff when manœvring in a garage. I did not check tyre pressures which may have contributed to this. The clutch was very unpleasant and suffered badly from jaggers all the time. The starting of the engine was sometimes very uncertain, particularly through starter failing to engage and through carburation, as engine was turning over. Oil was dropping on to the offside exhaust pipe under the bonnet at the forward end which burnt and smelt very unpleasant when car was standing. Car otherwise O.K. Garaged in private lock-up for night. Saturday morning, 13th July. Engine started readily. Clutch would not stop revolving. Gears very difficult to engage. When gear was in, car started to move although clutch pedal depressed right down. Very disconcerting when manœvring in a confined space. Clutch defects righted themselves after proceeding short way on road and afterwards O.K. except clutch never properly stopped revolving when engaging gear from standstill. I found the bonnet locks very difficult to operate and bonnet more difficult to open or close than present Phantom. Test over Rough Road: I found a piece of very rough road, rather like Bishops Avenue, Hampstead, or some of the Paris Pavé. Driving over this at about 35 m.p.h. car rode very badly. Steering kicked and car was generally unpleasant. Nothing like the 16 cylinder Cadillac. Accelerator pedal uncomfortably heavy - much more than Phantom - inclined to be tiring when driving fast. The Throttles were sticking, engine either ran fast or stopped. Visibility of nearside front wing practically nil. -1- | ||