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 report and review of a Cottin-Desgouttes saloon car.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 21\4\ Scan010 | |
| Date | 14th June 1928 guessed | |
| COTTIN,—Contd. EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR. (Above) The seating dimensions. (Left) A side view showing the attractive lines of the saloon model tested. COTTIN DESGOUTTES SALOON. [Left Column] steering pivot is extended upwards to pass through an eye formed at the end of a cross-member, extending outwards from the chassis. At the rear end of the car there are four light transverse semi-elliptic springs, the ends of which provide a four-point support for each stub axle. The drive is conveyed to the wheels from a box mounted on the frame, which encloses the bevel gears and differential, through open cardan shafts, so that the unsprung weight is very small. Duplicated Steering Gear. With this suspension system it is not possible to use an ordinary steering gear with a track rod, so that two horizontal spindles, each provided with a drop arm, are operated from an ingenious mechanism in the steering box. From the drop arms drag links extend to each of the front wheels independently. [Middle Column] We have devoted a great deal of space to the suspension system, because this is the outstanding feature of a car which in other respects is not particularly notable. In fact, for a six-cylinder engine rated at 14.7 h.p., the performance is not particularly good. A useful cruising speed of about 45 m.p.h. can be kept up quite smoothly and quietly, but it is necessary to make full use of the four-forward-speed gearbox in order to get a good average. It would really appear that the power-weight ratio is not sufficiently great, so that the engine is overloaded, despite the top-gear ratio of 5.8 to 1. Useful Third Gear. Thus on a main-road run quite a medium gradient will slow the car appreciably. On the other hand, a smart double-declutched change down to third can be made, and on this gear the car will climb remarkably well at 35-40 m.p.h. The acceleration on third gear on the level is also good, 40 m.p.h. being reached from 10 m.p.h. in 19 secs. Changing up can be carried out with useful rapidity. The engine is a side-valve unit of [Right Column] neat design, with a sheet-metal cover on the head enclosing the sparking plugs. The appearance is particularly clean owing to the use of a Paris-Rhone dynamotor mounted at the front end of the crankcase. A Low-built Car. Owing to the peculiar construction of the chassis, the car is a low-built job, the roof of the four-light fabric saloon tested being only 5 ft. 8 ins. from the road with the car unladen, despite the fact that the headroom inside is adequate. An excellent appearance has been achieved in this model by the use of a tall narrow radiator and attractive body lines; four doors are provided, giving easy entry from either side of the car. For the rest, the driving position is comfortable, the controls are conveniently placed, the gear change is easy, and the equipment is fully up to modern standards. In short, the car is pre-eminently suited to the owner-driver who wants supreme motoring comfort and is not very particular concerning maximum speed and get-away. [Specifications Box] CAR TESTED: 14.7 h.p. Cottin Desgouttes Weymann saloon. Price £625. ENGINE: Six cylinders, side-by-side valves; bore, 63 mm.; stroke, 90 mm.; capacity, 1,680 c.c.; rating, 14.7 h.p. TRANSMISSION: Four forward-speed gearbox, open propeller shaft, final drive mounted on chassis and open cardan shafts. BRAKES: Pedal-operated f.w.b. and hand-controlled transmission brake; stopping distance: 63 ft. from 30 m.p.h. (not using servo motor). SPEEDS ON THE GEARS: Top (5.8 to 1), 58 m.p.h.; 3rd (7.6 to 1), 44 m.p.h.; 2nd (10.6 to 1), 30 m.p.h.; 1st gear ratio (14.8 to 1). SUSPENSION SYSTEM: Special design giving independent springing for each wheel. TURNING CIRCLES: Left, 44 ft. 6 ins.; right, 44 ft. 0 ins. DIMENSIONS: Wheelbase, 10 ft. 0 ins.; track, 4 ft. 7 ins.; overall length, 14 ft. 4 ins.; width, 5 ft. 7 ins.; height, 5 ft. 8 ins. WEIGHT: As tested, with two up, 30 cwt. COTTIN CARS, 20, Queen Street, Hammersmith, London, W.6. [Graph & Lower Captions] (Above) An attractive rear view, taken in a Surrey lane. (Left) The acceleration curves. [Graph Text] COTTIN DESGOUTTES SALOON ACCELERATION CURVES ROAD - WET CONCRETE. 3RD GEAR. TOP GEAR. [License Plate in image] MP 3058 [Footer] Temple Press Ltd., 5-15, Rosebery Avenue, E.C.1. | ||