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 report and critique of an 18 HP Lanchester.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 22\3\ Scan081 | |
| Date | 22th February 1932 | |
| 8440. SECRET. To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} re 18 HP Lanchester. Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}11/E22.2.32 Copy to ~~Mr. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer}~~ C.P.H.Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} I took the opportunity of trying this car over the week-end and drove it about 130 miles. My impression is that it is nothing like such a good car as the one on which we were given a demonstration run but, as I did not personally drive the car on that occasion, it is difficult to say for certain. I do not consider that this car is ~~likely~~ really pleasant at any speed above about 30 m.p.h. The carburetter suction noise is very noticeable. The performance is not as good as the car we tried and the maximum speed in excess of 60 much more difficult to attain. Between 30 and 40 miles an hour there is something which I find it difficult to describe, probably because it emanates from the fluid flywheel which is a new feature to one, but between those speeds there is a continous kind of rumble or boom. Under some conditions of running the "surging" of the fluid flywheel is quite noticeable as on the car we tried. It is a sort of "wump,wump". The feeling of slipping clutch every time one accelerates after slowing down is very noticeable and to me most unpleasant, and when picking up between 40 and 50 m.p.h. when the car is really warmed up there seems to be a very noticeable clutch slip. Changing gear is of course child'splay when one has got used to it. The silence of the gears seems excellent. Steering good and free from joggles but slightly on the stiff side. | ||