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 of a Phantom II car detailing performance, handling, and comfort characteristics.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 19\4\ Scan326 | |
| Date | 25th May 1931 guessed | |
| - 2 - Mr. Porter Chase, after driving a PII and being most enthusiastic about it, remarked "I was wondering if I had one, whether I should feel "out of it" in a year's time because of the coming into general use of Free Wheeling and Synchro-Mesh gears, etc.". The gear ratio is too high, and if one keeps on high gear, and most people do in this country, one not only suffers from lack of acceleration, but is unpleasantly aware of the power impulses at low speed. This particular car suffers from, or because of, the following:- 1. Thump in engine at 10 m.p.h. on high gear, best described as a "Stevix thump". 2. Carburetor feels weak below 40 m.p.h. (According to our tests for carburetion, this was correctly set and was not changed from the Derby setting) Late inlet valve closing would do this. The power, etc. above 40 - 50 m.p.h. was very good and felt ample. No high speeds were possible, but 78 m.p.h. was very easily reached against a wind. The PII's appear to be good for 8-10 m.p.h. better speed than the Springfield car. Between 55-65 m.p.h. the exhaust appears to create a booming or drumming which is most unpleasant in the ears. Above and below these speeds it is absent. The noise occurs when pulling and also on the retard. Brakes. These were very good, entirely devoid of "spring" and remarkably well balanced or equalized. For my part, I should prefer the same braking with less pedal effort. Controls. It was necessary to have the hand control for the throttle nearly half way up the quadrant to keep engine idling. This would be better if it operated about 1/4 the way up as is usual. It can very readily be changed to so function. Steering. Because the steering is very free and so easily handled, one is not conscious of the size and weight of the car. Whenever the steering appeared to "snatch" or "joggle", no connection with high speed wobble or "shimmy", it was generally found that the car was, due to its wonderful springing, being driven at 50 m.p.h. over rough roads. Riding. The old spring action that was generally considered so characteristic of the early Silver Ghosts and so very desirable is with us once more on the PII's. In my opinion this is the best riding car I have been in and this applies to the rear as well as the front. It is miles ahead of our PI's. The rear shock absorbers could, perhaps, be slightly stiffened up with advantage. | ||