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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).
Critical review and observations on the Stutz Eight car.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 23\5\  Scan066
Date  23th January 1928
  
44336

Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} - from Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer}

RE STUTZ CAR.

Below, I give a few observations on the Stutz Eight.

Engine - Noisy, full of vibrations, booms, picks up fairly well from speeds above 20 m.p.h. but badly at lower speeds. Won't go fast, won't climb well at low engine speeds.

Steering - Not self-centering, wanders badly. The steering wheel falling to pieces, rim coming off spokes.

Controls - Steering wheel controls not good as there is no datum to work from and one cannot tell where the lever is without going to the end of its movement and starting afresh. The lamp switch on the steering column is novel, but that is its only claim to notice. It is most inconvenient to use as one has to look at the lamps to see whether they are alight. The lever does not 'click' into its various positions.

Lights - The head lights are quite ineffective and it is hardly safe to use this car at night owing to the very poor illumination.

Clutch - Fierce, harsh and 'grabby'.

Gear Box - Gears noisy and vibrate badly. The gear lever is also too near to the brake lever and traps one's fingers.

Brakes - Hand Brake entirely useless, will not hold car on a small gradient.
Foot Brakes most unsatisfactory, always come on with a 'snatch' and even stick on, particularly if the car is stopped by the foot brake. When applied, the foot brake pulls car to the left badly.

Body - Seats comfortable. Doors do not work nicely, the inside handles being a sort of chinese puzzle. People who get in cannot get out without a struggle. The wire in the window glass would eventually drive one crazy, trying to get the wires off the line of vision. The body booms badly.

Suspension - Suspension fairly good with the exception that the back of the car sways violently and continuously which is a very bad defect.

I find this car a most disappointing one.

Contd:--
  
  


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