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).
Road test report memo on the 'Vulture' car, detailing initial gearbox problems and overall performance.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 123\3\ scan0107 | |
| Date | 23th January 1934 | |
| 84704 To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to Hdy.{William Hardy} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}5/MJ.23.1.34. Re. 'Vulture'. The 'Vulture' car has been run on the road this week-end. This car is fitted with the gearbox separate from the engine and with synchro-mesh on second speed. For the first 100 miles the synchro-mesh on the second speed did not work, i.e. the gear crashed every time a change was made. After severe use with the gears it is now functioning correctly and the engagement of the second speed with the synchro-mesh is as easy and fool-proof as going into third. We shall be dismantling the box later to see why it did not work to start with. The performance of the car is very good. I think we shall find the acceleration far and away better than any other car we know of. The body accomodation is very good indeed. There is infinitely more room than in the present Standard Phantom Continental car. We shall have to do a certain amount of work on the steering. We have also got to carry out modifications to the engine mounting. At the present time also the gear ratios in the box are those arranged for the J.111 car and we have another set going through suitable for the Phantom. We expect to be able to bring this car to London to show you in about ten days time. As regards P's. query re. the front axle. We are quite satisfied that we definitely have a much bigger margin on this axle than we have on the Bentley axle. If we are going to produce a light car we have got to revise our ideas on the amount of material we use on these parts. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||