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).
Road test report on a 45 HP Renault, comparing its performance to a Phantom.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 23\4\ Scan061 | |
| Date | 6th December 1927 | |
| S/W. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Copy to:- PN.{Mr Northey} X103 CWB1/GM/6.12.27. 45 H.P. RENAULT. I had the opportunity on Saturday last of being driven over some 60 or 70 miles out of London and back by H.O.D. Segrave in his 45 h.p. Renault. This car is the very latest example of the type and I was informed was quite standard. Fitted with a Weymann Saloon body its weight was stated to be about 3 1/4 tons. The car was fitted with a speed indicator and revolution counter and assuming the former to be correct it does approximately 40 m.p.h. per 1,000 revs. The back axle ratio was stated to be 3.3 to 1 and the tyres fitted were Dunlop 33 X 7, which information does not appear to correspond to the relative speed and engine revolutions which would appear to involve an axle ratio of nearer 2.3 to 1. Capacity is understood to be 9,100 c.c. In traffic the car behaved very well indeed and it was very seldom necessary to drop down to second speed. The acceleration on top was decidedly good: without any means of direct comparison I should say it was slightly better than the Phantom, at all events no worse. Segrave complained of second gear which was quite quiet but of a very low ratio as he stated 48 m.p.h. was the maximum speed on this car. The car has only three speeds in all.) The steering appeared to give no effort, but is quite low geared, and there did not appear to be any appreciable amount of road shock transmitted back to the steering wheel. On the open road the car accelerated easily to 85 m.p.h. and there appeared to be further capability of speed left. Segrave told me he had actually reached 100 m.p.h. on the road and 104 on Brookland's. When idling the engine is very silent and when under power is not noticeably rough although it is very apparent that there is an engine at work. There was one very noticeable period at 1500 revolutions and another not quite so obvious at rather over 1800. CONT: | ||