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).
Test drive of the Trials Car, commenting on its Vanden Plas body, one-piece wings, and the performance of its high axle ratio.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 88\2\ scan0078 | |
| Date | 10th December 1934 | |
| S/W. To Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} from Lp.{Mr Lappin} Copy to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} Re: TRIALS CAR. I drove the Open Trials Car to Martlesham on Friday and back on Saturday. This car is fitted with a Vanden Plas body and one-piece wings. There is little or no wing shimmy and the lamp movement is proportionately good. I note that these wings are made somewhat differently to the Park Ward type and in view of the results, might be tried by your department for the purpose of standardising this particular type of wing. This car has a high axle ratio, and on the run to Felixstowe I considered it is definitely not worth while and cannot believe that it pays, as far as average speed is concerned, except that it is associated with more engine output, a stream-lined body, or a route like the Great North Road. You can very seldom, if ever, get maximum revs., and I should imagine that this would be rather mortifying to a Bentley owner who had the high axle ratio. Lp.{Mr Lappin} | ||