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).
Trial run report and opinion on the Lincoln car, focusing on suspension and engine performance.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 127\2\ scan0003 | |
| Date | 1st May 1928 | |
| BJ. Copy to:- C. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} PR.{Percy H. Rose} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Whr.{Mr Wheeler} X3 929 Hb.{C. E. Harcombe} CWB10/GM/1.5.28. THE LINCOLN CAR. It having been reported to the Sales Conference that we were losing sales of R.R. cars, particularly in Switzerland, owing to their bad suspension which was stated to be inferior to American cars, and particularly to the Lincoln car. I was requested, if possible, to obtain one of them in order to form an impression regarding the car in general and the suspension in particular. I have now been able to do this and during the course of a trial run, both driving and being driven in the car, I formed the following opinions:- 1. SUSPENSION. This is definitely superior to ours. The car hardly rolls at all and yet even at slowest speeds over poor and medium roads the springs seem to be functioning freely - whilst at high speeds over fairly bad roads, including Bishops Avenue, the comfort was remarkably good although there was perhaps rather more motion than one would have wished for on the springs. I understand that the Houdaile shock dampers which are fitted all round are adjustable so that such extreme conditions are taken care of by giving them somewhat greater resistance. As in all cars, there is a definite speed at which the springing appears to be the worst, but in this car it is fairly low, about 20 m.p.h., and even then the car is more comfortable than ours at its critical period (23 to 25 m.p.h.) 2. ENGINE. The engine is remarkably free from torque reaction and crankshaft periods but is not very pleasant as it possesses a certain harshness which always seems to be apparent in V.{VIENNA} type engines. There is also a considerable amount of hum presumably from the gear chains. The performance is very good indeed, it runs well slow down to 4 or 5 miles an hour and accelerates rapidly and without fuss. I should say that the acceleration is definitely better than ours, which is quite understandable, as the back axle ratio is understood | ||