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).
Detailed analysis of vehicle weight distribution, including front, passenger, and coachwork weights for various car models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 43\2\ Scan096 | |
| Date | 8th February 1926 | |
| Oy3-E-2826 -5- February 8, 1926 Front weight. I think you will find it interesting to note that there is less than 100 lbs. total difference in front weight between our lightest and heaviest car, all the open jobs weighing the same. (These weights are established as the average of literally hundreds of jobs.) The maximum variation in cars of any given type is about 50 lbs. in front and 150 at rear. It is quite possible that we could use one weight of front spring only (say 1150 lbs.). Your front weights will possibly vary more, through not fitting standard lamps, running boards, mudguards, or spare wheel carriers, but it will scarcely vary more than 150 lbs. total on all jobs, or 75 lbs. per wheel. Passengers. Passenger weight is 20% front and 80% rear on practically all jobs. Since it is generally "unhealthy" to spring for more than 4 passengers, 120 lbs. in front and 480 lbs. on rear is a fair allowance for all jobs. Coachwork. The distribution of body weight given in enclosure is the body only excluding mudguards, lamps, boxes, valances, spare wheel carriers, running boards etc. If one includes these: Front 170 Rear 120 Total 290 Distribution of total additional weight including coachwork becomes: Roadster - 385 (36%) 685 1070 Phaeton - 385 (34%) 745 1130 Touring - 395 (32%) 855 1250 E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} Cabriolet - 435 (31%) 965 1400 Salamanca - 405 (29%) 995 1400 Full Cabriolet - 425 (28%) 1075 1500 Sedan - 475 (31%) 1075 1550 Limousine - 475 (31%) 1075 1550 This compares closely with your allowance of 30% front and 70% rear, | ||