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).
List of recommendations for improving car riding characteristics by adjusting weight distribution.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 67a\2\ scan0082 | |
| Date | 23th December 1927 guessed | |
| contd :- -3- (1) Carry spare wheel and luggage at back. (2) Avoid top heavy and short bodies which tend to concentrate the weight in the centre of the chassis. (3) Carry the petrol tank as far out at the rear as possible. (4) Carry the battery at the back of the frame and not on the running board. (5) In exceptionally difficult cases the fitting of bumpers may improve the riding of the car. (6) Coupe bodies may convey a false impression of reasonable riding. The driver sits at the point about which pitching takes place. Riding in a 'dickey' seat on such a car is usually most objectionable. A point that we have noted experimentally is that filling the petrol tank does in most cases improve the riding appreciably. As the fluid carried weighs 160 lbs. it is equivalent to carrying two spare wheels at the rear. Therefore when making a test to shew up the efficiency of the suspension always ensure that the petrol tank is full. While these notes may seem of rather a negative nature, it is hoped that they will throw some light on a very difficult problem which is only in the initial stages of technical solution. At the moment we hold the opinion that the present trend of fitting tails to the rear of bodies in which the spare wheels, tools and luggage are carried together with the fuel, is a most desirable move as it improves both the suspension and streamline properties of the car. We do believe that in some cases a customer who complains of pitching may be satisfied by increasing the damping of the rear springs. (Hartfords and hydraulics) though this may bring up other undesirable features which will promote a less objectionable type of discomfort. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||