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).
Performance review of an unspecified car, detailing its handling, mechanics and comparing it to a Bentley.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 178\3\ img178 | |
| Date | 24th May 1932 guessed | |
| (2) The engine is mounted on rubber feet, but we understand the rubber is very hard. STEERING. The steering was light, in fact, extremely light, and free from any stickiness. It was lightly self-centring, but consistently so. No high speed wobble was experienced, but at high speeds even on the good by-pass roads the whole front of the car jellied. This was not a periodic jelly, but had the impression of being the whole front of the car twisting due to axle deflections instead of the springs deflecting. The springing was very hard. No road shocks were felt. GEARBOX. The 3rd. speed was 'silent'. The degree of silence was difficult to judge in view of the noise of the exhaust, but the constant mesh gears were definitely noisy on the overrun. The demonstrator admitted these were very bad. Gear change was very difficult with the short lever. Although the illustrations would hardly lead one to believe so it is possible to get in and out of the car from the driving seat on to the near side by passing the legs over the gear lever. We did 50 m.p.h. in 3rd. gear frequently. Riding in the rear seat was impossible - reminiscent of the L.G.O.C. 'buses 4 or 5 yrs. ago. BRAKES. These were extremely good. The writer made a number of tests on varying wet surfaces. Naturally more pressure was required than with our servo assisted system, but the pressure was not too great for the type of car. The shoes have a servo action. There is a ready adjustment close at hand on the floor of the front seat. This car, having a low centre of gravity, was extremely easy to control in a skid. Due to the light weight on the rear wheels, and the acceleration possible by the use of gears, the writer skidded several times when cornering in London traffic due to wheel spin. This car is of interest in that it is now practically identical in size with that of our Bentley. The engine is slightly larger (200 cc.) tax £2. more, and there is no supercharger. The wheelbase and track were within practical limits the same. The frame height from the ground is the same. We suggest that Derby should try one of these cars if they have not already done so, and put it through their normal tests. It will be understood that the writer could not obtain all the information desirable as he had to appear as a prospective customer of P. W., who | ||