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 and comparison of the Cadillac 16's performance and handling.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 125\1\ scan0039 | |
Date | 1st May 1930 | |
COPY Rolls-Royce of America, Inc. Springfield. Mass. May 1, 1930. To: Mr. Olley. Copy to Mr. Beaver. Mr. Hosac. From: Mr. Ainsworth. Cadillac 16. I do not know what information you have received regarding the new CADILLAC "16" or whether you have had an opportunity of trying it, so that I am taking this opportunity of letting you know the various bits of information which I have obtained. Thorne Donnelley, whom you know very well, bought one in Chicago and both he and Dreiske came to the conclusion that it was not a safe car to drive over 65-70 m.p.h., although the car is apparently capable of a speed in excess of 100 m.p.h. I personally had a very good opportunity last Sunday of comparing both cars--incidentally, in the presence of a Cadillac dealer. Some friends of mine have negotiated the purchase of a Cadillac 16 cylinder sedan, and were complaining about the riding and asked me if I would give them some advice on it while the Cadillac man was there. In order to get an opinion of the riding, I drove the car over a selected route, with the owner and Cadillac dealer on the rear seat. The route consisted of about three miles of a wavy concrete road; two miles of dirt road with a bad camber, covered with a loose surface and full of potholes and humps, interspersed with several sharp corners; and other oddments of road; amounting to, say, a total of six miles or so. All of these roads I was very familiar with. Being Sunday afternoon the traffic was heavy on the concrete road, but I found that although the acceleration of the Cadillac was great, and the operation of the engine excellent, owing to the sway of the car it was not possible to duck in and out as one can with a Rolls. When going over the concrete stretch, the pitching of the car was a very slow period like a boat on a slow Oily Atlantic swell. I understand that two boys, of about ten and fifteen, were both seasick on a sixty mile trip. cont'd.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} | ||