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).
Article from 'The Autocar' magazine reviewing a new, smaller Packard model, detailing its mechanical features and bodywork.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 82\3\ scan0292 | |
| Date | 5th April 1935 | |
| The Autocar, April 5th, 1935 573 (Left) Inverted view of the steering connections. (Above) The front suspension layout, which incorporates radius rods. A feature seldom found on any but expensive cars is the use of a hypoid final drive. This means that the propeller-shaft driving pinion is carried below the centre line of the crown wheel, and on the Packard there is the further point that the final drive casing is turned at an angle, compared with what is customary. Thus the propeller-shaft can be lower than it would be with the more normal arrangement, and a comparatively low floor and general build are possible. Hydraulically operated brakes are employed, and the fluid reservoir for the system is carried accessibly under the bonnet in conjunction with the master operating cylinder. The hand brake gives separate mechanical control of the rear wheel shoes, and the lever is not of the present conventional pattern, but is mounted under the right-hand side of the instrument board, where it is convenient, but out of the way. Steel disc wheels carry tyres of 16 by 6.50in. Reverting to under-bonnet features, very neat wiring is noticeable, for comparatively short high-tension leads pass from the distributor on the near side of the unit to the small 14 mm. sparking plugs, mounted accessibly in the top of the cylinder head. A down-draught Stromberg carburetter is used, and to its intake is attached a large air silencer and cleaner. Both automatic strangling of the mixture for starting purposes and thermostatic temperature control of the mixture are provided. Side and threequarter rear views of the new smaller Packard; the tail of the body, it will be seen, is particularly clean. The car as a whole is of handsome and impressive proportions, and does not strike one as being a much smaller car in overall size than the Packards to which one is accustomed. It has a similar type of radiator to that used for the latest larger model, with the shell placed right forward and sloped rearwards at an appreciable angle, whilst the wings are extended downwards in a way which makes for a neat front view. The tail of the body is entirely clean, with a swept rear panel which incorporates a luggage compartment. Beneath this, out of sight and under lock and key, is the spare wheel; also a luggage grid is fitted. The lid{A. J. Lidsey} of this compartment is spring-balanced and stays in the open position of its own accord. Though a smaller Packard, it is by our standards a big car, and the interior is very roomy, with sufficient width on both the single-piece front seat and the rear seat for three if required. The upholstery is in cloth; the instruments are neatly arranged in a panel on the off side of the instrument board, the left-hand side being devoted to a compartment for packages and oddments. A no-draught ventilation system is fitted, consisting of a separate pivoted section of the window in the forward doors and a hinged rear-quarter window. An attractive point is the way in which the doors close without any marked metallic sound. A brief trial of the car showed it to be silent and smooth in its running, as would be expected, and possessed of an easy, essentially top-gear performance, whilst lightness of control and ease of manoeuvring are strong points. The steering lock is good, and the steering itself light with distinct caster action. In addition to the four-door four-light saloon, bodywork styles include a four-door four-light model with a luggage trunk at the rear, known as the Club saloon, a touring saloon—a four-door six-light style, also with a luggage trunk, a fixed-head coupé with a dickey seat, a convertible coupé, and a model termed the touring coupé, with a two-door four-light body with a luggage trunk; at the moment it is not possible to give the exact prices. The sole concessionaires are Leonard Williams and Co., Ltd., 36, Berkeley Street, London, W.1, and the Great West Road, Brentford, Middlesex. | ||