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).
Merits of the 6-cylinder Phantom engine versus competitor 8 and 12-cylinder engines.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 127\1\ scan0144 | |
| Date | 12th March 1926 | |
| X435 To BJ. LORD WARGRAVE. MR. CLAREMONT. LHS.{Lord Herbert Scott} MR. FULLER) RR.OF MR. OLLEY. ) America MR. NADIN. ) Inc. MR. BAGNALL) WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} RG.{Mr Rowledge} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} PN.{Mr Northey} CWB. FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} R3/M3.12.26. CONFIDENTIAL. X.435. X.8770. X.3993. RE SIX & EIGHT CYL.ENGINES. We were anxious that no luxury car engine should beat our 6 cyl. Phantom as regards the fundamental arrangements. We have studied from time to time all possible combinations of cylinder, having long ago designed a 12 cyl. Vee engine for chassis work, which would have had many merits, including the use of the single camshaft and cams for both sets of valves. We concluded, however, that no arrangement was so practical as the plain straight 6 cyl. engine, although it has certain imperfections, some of which have been known to us from the early days. We still think it is, on the whole, the most satisfactory arrangement the buyer can have. Therefore we do not see that we need seriously fear the competition of the Daimler 12., or the Panhard or Packard, and other 8 cyl. cars, which are naturally more complicated and costly to produce of the same quality. Incidentally both of these engines appear to produce a 'fussiness', an objectional vibration within the car, they are extravagant in petrol or lubricating oil, or both, they are difficult in accessibility, or have other disadvantages, such as generating more heat to the passengers, and heating more water. Also they are more heavy and difficult to repair. I thank Mr. Olley for his excellent criticisms of the eight in line Packard. We had been hunting for merits and defects of more subtle character, and missed the primary force being so high. This evidently is the cause of the vibration I experienced at all high speeds, all over the car. Our own tests of one of these cars (Packard) gave us the impression that as a car there was much to be desired, in other parts as well as the engine, though we believe it is one of the best of the straight eights. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||