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 detailing issues with a car's suspension, handling, engine, brakes, body, and heater.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 97\5\ scan0263 | |
| Date | 19th March 1938 | |
| 400 Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/FD.{Frank Dodd - Bodies} 19.3.38. B.III. The suspension of this car does not appear to be as good with two people in as with four. The rear of the car throws up on a bad road in a most disconcerting manner, the front hits the buffers. The suspension is inclined to be noisy when travelling over moderate surfaces. One forms the impression that some of the noise is coming from the dampers as well as from the wheels. The car continues to corner well, but with the tyre pressures necessary to give comfort, is inclined to over-steer. There is a marked period at full throttle between 50 and 60 m.p.h., which seems to be affected by the angularity of the propeller shaft. The brakes are effective, but require rather too much pedal pressure, and pull to the left under severe application. The engine has a number of periods which can probably be dealt with by means of the engine mounting. The car is very bad for wind noises, and these should be dealt with. One also forms the impression that the body is somewhere in direct contact with the frame, and that the benefit of the silent block mounting is being partially lost. Is the connection between the body and the dashboard responsible for this ? The central opening device for the windscreen has not a sufficiently wide base to prevent the screen fluttering at both sides. This point should be reported to Park Wards, and they should be asked if they can provide a central opener having more lateral stability. The knob on the heater switch comes off, and the switch smells and smokes when in operation. When it is not smoking, it is difficult to know whether the heater is on or off. See Childs about making this switch nicer to operate and less prone to over-heat. | ||