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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).
Road test on the steering characteristics of the I4.B.V. Corniche model.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 97\3\  scan0201
Date  25th July 1939
  
k509.

To. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}
c. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/FJH.{Fred J. Hardy - Chief Dev. Engineer}

Châteauroux. 6/25.7.39.

I4.B.V. - Corniche.
Steering Characteristics

[Handwritten annotation: FJH.{Fred J. Hardy - Chief Dev. Engineer}]

In response to your memos. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/FJH.{Fred J. Hardy - Chief Dev. Engineer}I/MH.{M. Huckerby}20.7.39 and Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}4/R.2I.7.39, we have tried the experiment of putting sandbags on the roof using 6.50 x 16 Avon tyres at 25 and 30 lbs/sq" cold as on Standard B.V.

The test consisted of a run up and down a straight wavy road with a fair wind blowing, at speeds up to 100 m.p.h. with 200 lbs. in two large flat sandbags on the roof.

The run was immediately followed by one with the bags transferred, one to the floor in front and one behind, i.e. approximately directly below their previous position on the roof.

Three testers drove the car on each run. Two of these thought there was a very slight improvement in directional stability for small deviations from the straight when the weight was on the roof whilst the third considered that the car went straighter when the weight was on the floor.

We can certainly say that it makes very little difference. If the test represents the full improvement likely to be obtained by extensive re-design to alter the roll centres, we would strongly recommend as a less costly and at least ten times more effective modification, the use of larger tyres on wide rims. This has the added advantage of stopping objectionable tyre scream at low cornering speeds, and increasing the comfort all round.

We are afraid that in spite of every care taken, the roof has suffered a little from the maltreatment.

Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/IMW{Ivan M. Waller - Head of Chateauroux}
[Signature: J.u.Walliot]
  
  


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