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).
Driver's report on a car's performance during a 1,000-mile road test in France.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 5a\3\ 03-page199 | |
| Date | 1st January 1932 | |
| Y 5840 PH.3/HT2.1.32. Sgn... from PH. [Text is struck through] Copy to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} [Text is underlined] Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} [Text is underlined] 18-Gk. [Text is underlined] I ran this car just under 1,000 miles in France during a week, and did not, I think, find any new feature which had not been referred to in the daily reports during its 10,000 miles' run. The car ran consistently well. Speeds up to 80 m.p.h. (speedometer) were run, and on one occasion when running north to Orleans the car ran continuously at a speed of 75 m.p.h. for three-quarters of an hour. Acceleration was good other than an impression of delay after slow-speed-running, but the blind spot noticed when the car passed through London for France was greatly improved. The absence of engine and transmission vibration and fuss at all high speeds was a very striking feature, this being the most valuable contribution to "Rolls-Royceness" that I have experienced for years. The steering was easy and well self-centring and satisfactory up to about 60 m.p.h., but at the higher speeds the car never felt under proper control, there being a tendency to jump and dive in all directions which called for the greatest concentration on the steering by the driver. I took this unpleasant characteristic to be greatly due to the type of very flexible springs, which would be more suitable for English use. The synchro-mesh in the gearbox was all that could be desired, otherwise the box was noisy and sloppy. It was pleasant having a dynamo which covered the night running lighting load well. The water-cooling appeared unusually adequate, even discounting the outside temperature. We did some very severe mountain climbing between Natus and Bourg, notably the Col de Bertiand, which is much more severe in all important ways than the Col de Fichaux near Geneva (G.W.H. to note). Brakes remained effective, but required more pressure than I like; very little sound. | ||