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).
Underperformance of a customer's car and proposed remedies for an influential owner.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 47\1\ Scan074 | |
| Date | 29th May 1924 guessed | |
| -2- took this car out recently with his man and the speed actually achieved on the road between Hatfield and Baldock, was 68 m.p.h., which led me to report that I considered that the performance of this car in respect of high speed, could be considered up to our standard at least. The owner, however, complains in addition, that the car is very sluggish on hills and that the consumption of fuel amounts to as much as one gallon for 10 miles in the country. As a matter of general policy, we have decided that very close attention must be given to this car with a view to making quite certain that it is returned to Sir Connop Guthrie definitely within three weeks from the date you get it, being capable of giving as fine a result on the road as reasonable skill and selection in testing and tuning up can provide. A mutual understanding has been arrived at between Hooper's, Sir Connop Guthrie and ourselves, by which the owner will have 4-wheel brakes fitted to his car, without cost to him, when we are ready. Also, Messrs. Hooper have undertaken to pay for the cost of our fitting the Torque Reaction Damper to this engine, which should be done whilst the car is with you. You will doubtless tackle this job seriously on the dynamometer, and if necessary, make a selection of parts, cylinders and pistons, with a view to getting the best result. There must obviously be something capable of improvement somewhere, probably in the carburettor, if the consumption in the country is only 10 miles to the gallon of fuel. I understand the gear-ratio is already low, with the 14-tooth pinion, otherwise this would probably be a point to make for in obtaining the results we are out to get. This owner is an influential person and we are anxious to have him on our side. P.N. | ||