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).
Summary of suggested future testing procedures covering coachwork, winter running, and a strategy for mileage-based development.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 155\2\ scan0279 | |
| Date | 24th November 1938 guessed | |
| -7- IMW.{Ivan M. Waller - Head of Chateauroux} Coachwork. Scope of development should include coachwork tests covering ventilation, heating, comfort and durability, i.e. rattles, shakes, sticking windows etc. Tests of latest type ski racks on roof as fitted to most foreign cars in winter. IMW.{Ivan M. Waller - Head of Chateauroux} Winter Running! Extended running in snow (i.e. mountain passes kept open in winter). GR.{George Ratcliffe} Cold chamber tests, constant speed and general consumption tests. General Summary. From the foregoing analysis of suggestions for future tests on new chassis it will be seen that the predominant factor is mileage. 50,000 miles is looked upon as a minimum satisfactory distance to prove the worth of a new model. The French 15,000 miles tests, Preliminary and Final, and continuations of both, are regarded as of undoubted value in their present form, supplemented by tests on the Autobahnen, in the mountains, and on snow bound roads. It is considered that the present suggestion of giving testers who do not do much driving some experience of road conditions is obviously beneficial. It seems that to preserve a continuity of development testing is very important, so that each component does a sufficiently large mileage without interruption. A system which would appear to have practical advantages would be to allocate three chassis solely for general development work, and two cars which would be termed "mileage" cars. The "mileage" cars should be brought up to date quarterly, and on the light of experience gained on general development cars. An accurate record should be kept of the mileage to which each component is subjected. A car should be prepared for the final French test to the specification decided on, using as far as possible, components that have done a large mileage on the "mileage" cars. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Cr.{Mr Cra???ster / Mr Chichester} | ||