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).
Engine cooling performance, overheating issues, and the effectiveness of louvred bonnets on different car models.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\T\2January1929-June1929\ Scan250 | |
| Date | 27th May 1929 guessed | |
| contd :- -2- With the wind : SS.{S. Smith} car 19-EX........... 90°C (Would be Phantom car 73-OR....... 95°C (boiling at (ats. temp. of (30°C. It will be thus seen that in both cases the SS.{S. Smith} car shews up substantially better than the present standard production chassis. The test, however, emphasises our previous remarks that it is not feasible to drive continually at high speeds in hot weather without bonnet ventilation. Certainly with a following wind the car will over-heat on any hot summer day, whereas with a louvred bonnet, such as the Hispano fit as standard, the radiator provided will be adequate for all conditions. Since we have not had many complaints of the present standard Phantom, we can only conclude that the shutters provided in the bonnet have been utilised for touring in the summer. Louvred bonnets are of course supplied as standard to owners in tropical or mountainous districts. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson} | ||