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).
Detailed performance and reliability report of a Goshawk car after a 780-mile journey.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 46\2\ Scan388 | |
| Date | 8th August 1922 | |
| C9/C5822 Ditteridge House, Box, Wiltshire. Aug. 8. 22. Dear Sir, In answer to yours of 5th August regarding the behaviour of the Goshawk, I would like to say that when on the road and when possible, I always went as fast as the car could go. I did 780 miles in 6 days, most of the time on roads which were horrible, and if the chassis is none the worse for it it will stand anything. I was mostly in the "war area" and had a lot of trouble with punctures, cuts, etc. The engine is very fine, runs quietly, and climbs beautifully, but is not fast. I was never able to get more than about 53 miles an hour, but one can go nearly all day at 45 and keep up a good average. My best run for an hour was just over 37. It consumes too much oil, I was giving her about 2 litres every 150 miles. The timing gears are not quiet enough for an R-R and make a noise like a "wind." The clutch and gear change are very nice but I would like a four speed box as the car did not seem to "get away" on second when changing down. The brakes as I found them are not nearly good enough and I had to stand on foot brakes to pull her up when going fast and the hand brake is so far forward it is nearly out of reach. I do not like having battery ignition only; as you will have heard, the dynamo burnt out, and I was stranded. I had to call on Paris who came out and fitted a 40/50 battery to my car, as they did not think mine, which was run down, would carry me to Boulogne. One of the joints between engine and exhaust pipe blew out and I had a new one put in without much trouble. The rubber pipe connection between radiator and engine is not long enough, there was a leak of water, in spite of tightening it up (twice) and after going over a bad pot hole it came away altogether and it was not easy to replace as the rubber was torn and of course there was a lot of water lost and I had to go some way before I could replace it. The wheels are good except for the very absurd way one has to hammer at the leaves to get the cap done up or undone. It was not easy to keep the car on the road at anything over 50; that was due I expect to the body which I think was top-heavy. There was a leakage of oil at back axle by brake drums. It was a very great pleasure to drive the car with such a silent and flexible engine. Yours truly, (Sd) C.B.Northey, Major. | ||