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).
'Correspondence' page from 'The Autocar' automotive magazine featuring reader letters and photographs.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 160\5\ scan0176 | |
| Date | 13th December 1940 | |
| 602 The Autocar December 13th, 1940. Correspondence arrest, and the idea that they could get away in a car is unthinkable. Therefore, why do the City police fuss—and waste not only a lot of their own time, but mine as well? My work in the national war effort keeps me fully occupied, and I have no leisure for long arguments over trivialities with officious persons. Let the police keep to utilities and drop futilities. Then both they and we will be better able to get on with our respective jobs. J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} W. SHILLAN, Managing Director, British Motor Boat Manufacturing Co., Ltd. London, W.C.1. [The police have their instructions, of course, and individual officers, presumably, are but carrying these out. As to whether they would be better employed on more important duties than those described by our correspondent is a wider subject. Irksome as the procedure may often be, the present regulations are clear as to the locking up and immobilising of unattended cars, and it is for the motorist to assist by conforming even if the immediate need for such precautions may not be apparent.—ED.{J. L. Edwards}] HOME ON WHEELS A Source of Delay on Riviera Roads From Major-General Sir W. Malleson [49887.]—On page 540 of your issue of November 29th, in an article entitled “Outsizes,” you gave a picture of a “travelling bungalow.” I knew this affair some ten years ago when it was parked around St.{Capt. P. R. Strong} Raphael, on the Riviera. Unfortunately, when I was leaving for Central France at the end of the season, I found it ahead of me on the narrow winding road through St.{Capt. P. R. Strong} Maxime, Cavalaire, and Baume to Toulon. Then it was frankly a nuisance. It went at 20 m.p.h., filling the narrow road, and I had to follow on its tail for more than an hour, as apparently its inhabitants could hear none of my hooting, probably because their little low-geared engine was making such a noise. It is just as well only one was made. More would have been a menace. W. MALLESON. Torquay. FROM ROYAL SERVICE TO THE FORCES The Career of a Crossley Six-wheeler [49888.]—In your issue of November 29th I was interested to see on page 538, in the article entitled “Outsizes,” a picture of a Crossley six-wheeler made for King George V.{VIENNA} It may interest you to know that when trading in this city as Murray Wells, Ltd., motor agents (since closed owing to the war), I purchased this car from Clarkes Garage, of King's Lynn. I converted it into a tip wagon for a local building contractor. It was recently requisitioned by the Army, and is now doing useful work carrying a searchlight “somewhere in England.” J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} MURRAY WELLS. Leicester. AND THIS WAS THE RESULT Morris Eight Blown 30ft. into a Field, but the Driver was Almost Uninjured [49889.]—The enclosed photographs of my late motor car may be of interest. The car was a 1938 Morris 8 two-door de luxe saloon. A “Jerry” bomb fell some 10ft. in front while I was travelling at about 40 m.p.h. Although the car was blown about 30ft. into a field, eventually landing upside down, apart from slight cuts and bruises I was lucky enough to sustain no further injury The snap of the back panel is interesting, because the glass is absolutely intact, although bent. I am, and have been, for many years a regular reader of your still excellent journal. HERBERT L. MOORE. Rochester, Kent. VETERAN CAR MEMORIES Troubles and Pleasures of Motoring in the Early Days [49890.]—I was very interested to read Mr. G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} L. Benbough's letter [49869], as it brought back memories of the early days of motoring. I used to run a motor cycle with a flat belt drive that was always breaking. Afterwards I had a two-seater car, with a single-cylinder De Dion engine, that gave fairly good results. Years ago I lived near Reading, and met a lady and gentleman who owned a big car, either a Daimler or a Panhard. They said there was not another car that could go like theirs. On one occasion, out in desolate country miles from anywhere, on a run to Oxford, the driving chain to the road wheels came off, and we thought that we were in for serious trouble, but after a little diagnosis we got the chain on again and proceeded. This grand old car made no obstacles of the Oxfordshire hills, and was also capable of attaining a good turn of speed on the flat. I always looked forward to the Brighton Run, and on one occasion had the honour of going to “London-by-the-Sea” on one of the cars of the Old Brigade, and then to the banquet given by Lord Iliffe at the Hotel Metropole, where I had a most enjoyable time which has lived in my memory. To show that all interest is not lost in the cars that made history, recently I saw on the road a Silver Ghost Rolls-Royce, and a Renault of early date; both were going strong and running silently. I call to mind the Motor Shows at the Crystal Palace, and the first Shows at Olympia, when some of the first Royal Mail vans were exhibited. What vast changes have taken place since then! I wonder if the Brighton Run will ever be held again. I hope so, in more happy times. ONE OF THE OLD BRIGADE. Croydon. “TALKING OF SPORTS CARS” A Neutral Observer on the Famous 8-litre Bentley [49891.]—While I do not wish to reopen the 8-litre Bentley versus Type 57S Bugatti discussion, I feel that a few observations by a neutral observer may be opportune. I have had the pleasure of a quite extensive run recently in Mr. Lycett's 8-litre, and was able to appreciate not only the immense performance of this famous car, but also to take in some other points. In spite of its size the road-holding of the 8-litre is astonishingly good, and I cannot believe that the car would lose much to a Bugatti on the journey in question, certainly not more than it would make up comfortably by reason of superior acceleration. The after-state of a Morris Eight following a bomb which fell on the road only some ten feet in front of it. The driver was not seriously injured. See letter No. 49889. Although it loses performance through running on Pool, I am inclined to think that the engine is happier than a super-charged unit would be on this fuel, nor should we overlook the vintage of the Bentley engine, which has not been extensively modified, merely having special pistons, polished ports, multi-carburettors, and a compression ratio in keeping with modern pre-Pool fuels. The date of manufacture is 1931. It is wrong to suggest that Mr. Lycett employs special carburettor and plug settings (whatever is meant by the latter) to achieve good runs in timed tests. Whenever I have timed the Bentley, and also on the occasion of the record runs at Brooklands, it has been driven down and has gone on to the track with no attention to the engine. Certainly the axle ratio is frequently changed, but I have recently seen that even on the highest ratio an extremely fine road performance is attained, with, incidentally, a road maxi- | ||