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).
Competitor vehicle analysis, focusing on steering, engine performance, and reliability.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 173\4\ img080 | |
| Date | 30th November 1935 | |
| S.H. Grylls, Esq., Book-Cadillac Hotel, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A. usa Confirmatory tests show that the La{L. A. Archer} Salle steering is infinitely better than anything we have ever been able to produce. It is not a question of internal friction, this steering is as free as our own, but shocks coming through it as measured by the joggle meter are 50% less than our own. We want you to bring back another La{L. A. Archer} Salle steering, exactly like the one we have. None of the information so far supplied seems to give us the secret of their immunity from road shocks. We hope that by the time you get this you will have got some more information. We have been disappointed with your cables re the Lincoln Zephyr. The reason we were interested in this car was because it sold for £240 and had a 12-cylinder engine, and is very similar to the twin Peregrine which we intend to make. From your cables we should be convinced that the Terraplane is much smoother than the Zephyr and therefore we ought to stick to our 6-cylinder engines, which I think you will agree is absurd. We think it quite probable that Cadillac's latest Vee Eight, which has probably had 15 years of experience behind it, would be smoother than the Zephyr, which has been out about 6 weeks. We think the same thing would apply to the Terraplane 6. We can tell you that the latest Ford Vee Eight 20 HP. being sold in England is one of the roughest things we have ever sat behind. The Cadillac explanation of their exhaust valve failure being due to sulphuric acid fumes in the crankcase appears to be distinctly original. It would be interesting to know how these fumes got on the exhaust valve seats. [Signature] | ||