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).
Typed letter reporting on the breakdown of a Phantom III car during a trial run near Le Mans.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 91\2\ scan0270 | |
| Date | 17th August 1937 | |
| 300a ? Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} seen By CHATEAUROUX. MX.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer}5/JAB.17.8.37. By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Dear Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} We arrived here from La{L. A. Archer} Baule yesterday and then I found that you did not know of our breakdown on Phantom III, Paris Trial's car. We left Paris with Sr. about midday on Saturday. The car ran very well until we were about 45 kilometers from Le Mans, and going up an incline when a quantity of smoke came up through the front foot boards. We stopped to investigate and found oil leaking on to the front end of the exhaust pipes from somewhere below the timing case. We were unable to locate the source of leak and decided to proceed slowly to Le Mans, to a garage. We then found the engine would not re-start. Further investigation showed that none of the auxilaries i.e. camshaft, dynamo drive, and distributor, were turning when the crankshaft was relvoved by the starter motor. P.B. was despatched to Le Mans on a passing car to arrange for the car to be towed there, and then to go on to Paris by train to collect the 25/30 for us to continue our journey to La{L. A. Archer} Baule. It was considered inadvisable to do anything in the way of investigation at Le Mans, and as it was a general holiday in France on the Monday, no arrangements could be made to get the car back to Paris until to-day Tuesday. This is being done and I have asked VA. to advise me when the car is there and the engine front dismantled. In the meantime, 32-EX. is being fitted up with the necessary pipes, third pump etc., so that the proposed scheme for production can be tried out. At the same time its own steering is being re-fitted. The weather at present is not suitable for a thorough test of petrol systems, the temperature being considerably lower than it has been for some time. [Signature] MX{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} | ||