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).
The disappointing performance of a 40/50 HP model with a low axle ratio, suggesting a pinion modification.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 66\4\ scan0352 | |
| Date | 28th January 1927 | |
| S/W. To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Copy to [REDACTED] X.8350 PN{Mr Northey}7/EH.28.1.27. 40/50 H.P. Low Axle Ratio. With reference to your Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}3/LG8.1.27, the results we were able to obtain with 103-MC, fitted with the 14-tooth axle and 6 75" tyres at the rear, were distinctly disappointing. The car was undoubtedly very pleasant to handle in hilly country, but Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} and I had to come to the conclusion that the gear ratio was still altogether too high to obtain a performance equivalent to that of the Straight-Eight Packard which in this case we are up against in the hands of Mr. Roberts. My impression was that we should require at least one tooth less in the pinion to do any good in this case. PN.{Mr Northey} | ||