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).
Comparison document detailing the 'Centre-poise Riding' engineering principles of the Ford V-8, with a handwritten note referencing a Rolls-Royce Wraith.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 126\3\ scan0082 | |
| Date | 14th April 1937 guessed | |
| TO WRAITH DASH 39" TO FORD DASH YOU ARE POISED BETWEEN THE SPRINGS IN THE NEW FORD V-8 The Ford V-8 has made history. More than one million have been built—impressive evidence of Ford V-8 economy and dependability. Now Ford introduces a remarkable new development in riding ease—in which comfort, stability and safety have been achieved as never before. Centre-poise riding is built on three sound engineering principles : Correct spring suspension. Correct distribution of weight on all four wheels. Correct position of passengers. Experience has shown that it is not enough to employ only one or two of these principles. Nor can one of them predominate at the expense of the others. For example : The new “soft” easy riding springs of the new Ford V-8 could not by themselves provide a safe and comfortable ride at the higher speeds. Only by combining all three principles has it been possible to produce the unusual riding comfort and stability and safety of the new Ford car. 1. CORRECT SPRING SUSPENSION The time-proved Ford transverse springs are used. Both front and rear springs are more flexible, easier in action. The front spring is now mounted in front of the axle instead of above it. The spring shackles are closer to the wheels, increasing the length of the spring and giving stability at the front end. The ends of the rear spring are now further behind the rear axle. The new position and new length of the springs give a longer and wider base for spring action and greatly increase smoothness of riding. 2. CORRECT DISTRIBUTION OF WEIGHT A car that is excessively heavy, front or rear, sacrifices comfort because the heavy end requires a stiff, hard riding spring. In the new Ford V-8 the engine has been moved 8½ inches forward of the conventional position. Car weight has been almost equally distributed over all four wheels. Regardless of the number of passengers or their position, there is no excess weight on the front or rear wheels. This more even distribution of weight permits the use of springs of practically the same flexibility front and rear. They are more uniform, more balanced in action. 3. CORRECT POSITION OF PASSENGERS Rear seat passengers now have the comfort of a front seat ride. Their weight rests well forward of the rear axle so that all passengers are cradled between the wheels. The re-location of the rear seat was made possible by the new position of the engine. Placing passengers closer to the centre of the car decreases their up and down movement. A simple illustration of this is the ordinary see-saw. The closer you sit to the centre the less you move up and down. Thus all three engineering principles have been employed to produce Centre-poise Riding in the new Ford. H.6443/335 | ||