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 report on the 24.EX Paris trials car, detailing issues with steering, wheel discs, and gearbox, and discussing left-hand drive for the French market.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 27a\1\ Scan024 | |
| Date | 20th November 1931 | |
| Sèvres Hm{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs}4/ST.20.11.31 RECEIVED 1931 NOV 22 To "Hor" DERBY copy to "WHF" CHATEAUROUX copy to "WRA" & "Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}" DERBY copy to "GWH{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}" CHATEAUROUX Re: 24.EX - PARIS TRIALS CAR Many thanks for letting us have "GWH{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}" to help us with our difficulties with the above car. After we had carried out the alterations to the steering, shock absorbers, corrected the tyre pressures, etc... as suggested by "GWH{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}" (who will give a detailed report of these alterations), we tested the car on 11th November. There was a very strong wind on that day and we ran the car with discs fitted to the wheels. Under these circumstances, Allen and myself who tested the car, found the steering very unpleasant at high speeds. "GWH{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}", who had not yet tried the car, came to Paris again on the 19th inst. and we have tested the car together. With normal weather and the discs removed, there is a considerable improvement in the steering and in its present state we can use the car to give trial runs, although personally I feel it is far from the type of steering we get on the Continental models I have tried. We must, I think, run the car without discs as they not of a good design and impede the correct functioning of the steering. There are other features of the car which make it anything but an ideal trials car. A boom on the overrun at 80 Km.p.h. is very noticeable and can be eliminated with the latest type engine mounting although this is not yet in production. The gears are not up to our usual standard of quietness, especially the 3rd speed. I find it difficult to change gear quietly and often miss the gear entirely. "GWH{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}" informs me that we shall find that, after a time, we shall get used to the left hand steering and other peculiar characteristics of the car, so I will arrange to put it into commission as a trials car and see how we get along with it. I should like to take this opportunity of emphasizing the necessity of having in Paris a Continental Model demonstration car. My view of the present car at the moment is that it might prove a handicap to sales. It is my opinion that a left hand steering for cars sold for use in France has no added value to the car as compared to a right hand steering. "Hm{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs}" | ||