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).
Sir John Latta's long-standing complaints about the springing and suspension on his 40/50 HP cars, specifically chassis No. 82-LC.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 47\2\ Scan009 | |
| Date | 23th September 1927 | |
| S/W. {Sales / Derby Works} Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} 4417 GWB10/GM/23-9-27. Re: Chassis No. 82-LC. Sir John Latta. Sir John Latta has for many years past complained of the springing of 40/50 h.p. R. {Sir Henry Royce} R. {Sir Henry Royce} cars. He has always maintained that the particular features he complains of are inherently associated with the use of Cantilever springs, whilst we have argued on the contrary that this is not the case. In the case of his present car, 82-LC, we have made more than one spring change in an effort to provide him with greater comfort and to remove the particular objections of which he complains. Recently we have persuaded Sir John to fit balloon tyres and hydraulic shock absorbers in front, but he still considers his springing is not good. The following are extracts from recent letters of his on this subject. Letter dated 14th Sept. "When we last talked together, I intended to have my other two Rolls-Royce cars altered to balloon tyres, etc., but my experience with my Phantom leads me to the conclusion that these tyres and the new spring touch the real defect to an inappreciable degree, in point of fact, Rolls-Royce cars, with their old tyres, if the kick, which I am sure is introduced by a defective spring, were eliminated altogether, would give universal satisfaction. There is no automatic mechanism I know of that would locate the pulse of Rolls-Royce springing, but as an Englishman I am proud of the Rolls-Royce car, and have discussed it with all and sundry in many of the countries of the world, and what impresses me is the universal admission of how much more tired at the end of a day's journey a passenger in a Rolls-Royce car is, contrasted with any other car without exception of the better class. The punch that shakes up the entrails of passengers on a long journey undoubtedly exists on a Rolls-Royce car, in fact the very excellence of the mechanism makes it the most perfect punch, just as the cars good points yield pleasant results; the reverse in the inverse ratio obtains when the consequences are unpleasant. I can hear your experts laughing at my mechanical inexperience, and that with justice. Even then, CONT: | ||