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 drive of the 6.EX Goshawk 40/50 model, discussing performance, body suitability, and fuel economy.
| Identifier | Morton\M22\ img172 | |
| Date | 1st December 1922 | |
| TO Sd. & BJ. FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} & BP. ORIGINAL 6.EX. &. GOSHAWK. V3923 (crossed out) Y4219 I have now got my 40/50 back which was damaged in France. This car is a fine one, and with one or two slight exceptions is probably the best specimen of 40/50 that we have made. (I drove it 90 miles on Saturday afternoon and evening.) This car impresses me with the fallacy of fitting a small and light body to this chassis in the same way as it would be suicidal to fit a heavy body to the Goshawk chassis. On driving this on English roads one is reminded with the extra handiness and lightness, of driving the Goshawk, and I am sure for an owner driver and lady driver who is at all fastidious as regards silence and restfulness, the Goshawk will be a great favourite. I therefore think it is extraordinarily advisable to do all we can to cater for lady drivers and owner drivers, by having suitable bodies in the showrooms, as these would be much more likely to attract people who could pay the extra money for an extra good article. The owner driver and lady driver are not usually those who require or demand a big body, hence it is very desirable to cater for such customers. The 6.EX carburation was good, but at slow speeds only gave 11-12 m.p.g. On examination I found the low speed jet could be considerably weakened, if the high speed one was strengthened. The result is excellent, and I am sure will give more economical running. R.{Sir Henry Royce} RECEIVED | ||