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).
Feedback from sales officials on a test car's performance and issues following test runs.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 5a\2\ 02-page297 | |
| Date | 12th May 1930 | |
| YS840. PN.{Mr Northey}5/WT12.5.30. S/W. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}...from PN.{Mr Northey} Copy to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} 14-0.4 This car has been returned to you to-day. Various Sales officials have had an opportunity of driving it since its completed test runs in France, Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} being the last to use it over the week-end. Obviously owing to the bad condition of the body and wings etc, it has not been too easy for Sales Officials to form an opinion about the things on the Chassis which matter, without being biased by the unpleasant condition of the car as a whole. The car went into Hooper for two days prior to Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}'s run, and all possible jobs were done to the body in the short time available, but it is even now in a very unpleasant state, especially the doors. With regard to the performance and general characteristics of the engine in doing its work, there is a fairly unanimous feeling and appreciation of general improvement such as we are setting out to obtain. Criticism in each case has been made of the additional amount of noise or hissing to be heard from the carburetter, a noise which is altogether greater than could be approved of in standard production, and which is of course greater than sounds at present experienced. The springing has been criticised very strongly, especially in front. When meeting a pothole the front wheels tend to drop into it with a bang instead of gliding in and out of it, very much as if the springs were solid as well as the tyres. I found the throttle tended to stick definitely when the accelerator was depressed from the shut-position. [Handwritten note: Should see Mr. Hives re this. (Ad. form 1125)] I found the clutch jaggered very badly when picking up from quite slow. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} and C. were definitely pleased with the engine performance, but considerably concerned at the | ||