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 report and comparison of a 4.5-litre Lagonda car with a Bentley.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 128\1\ scan0171 | |
| Date | 10th April 1934 | |
| X3531 To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Copy to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}E.C.Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}1/E10.4.34 When I was away, I had an opportunity of driving one of the latest 4 1/2-litre Lagonda cars for about 50 miles or so. I was considerably cheered by the result from the point of view of its being a competitor of the Bentley. It certainly is a competitor because it is a sports car and because it is cheaper. The heat and smell of hot oil etc. in the front seat was appallingly bad; The springing very much more harsh than the Bentley, even with the Andre controls slacked right off; The steering was hard and not self-centreing and the steering wheel rim perfectly smooth, i.e. no finger grips. Central accelerator pedal which I think is an abomination. I saw from some other note that we have agreed to fit one up for a customer on a Bentley and I am wondering why. (I am making enquiries). Brakes were poor in comparison with the Bentley, i.e. spongy. The performance did not seem to me to be any better than if as good as the Bentley even with the larger engine, but of course without an actual car to compare by or stop watch, it is impossible to make a true comparison. The body was an open touring one and I drove it with the hood and side curtains up but had to take the back curtains down - otherwise we should have been suffocated with fumes. The luggage space is practically nil - no grid. The only points I really liked about the car were: 1. The horn button which was large and easily operated. 2. The bonnet handles which I thought excellent. They are easy to operate and acted as definite handles to lift the bonnet by.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} I should like these looked into. | ||