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).
Test drive report detailing car performance on hills and comparing features with other models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 69\2\ scan0254 | |
| Date | 16th December 1924 guessed | |
| -2- (11) I noticed that the petrol level indicator on this Car is of the type as fitted to the 20-H.P. Chassis. I hope it is not intended to standardise this type of gauge with the 40/50-H.P. as I much prefer the gauge which is at present standard on the 40/50-H.P. (13) I have never cared for the appearance and finish of the controls on the 20-H.P. as much as those on the 40/50-H.P., and as the 20-H.P. design of control is now on the larger Chassis, I think, by comparison, it has an air of cheapness. To get over this, they would, I think, need to be extraordinarily well finished and substantially made. I am strongly in favour of the electric horn button being in the centre of the steering wheel. I drove this Car yesterday over "The Times" Motor Correspondent's specially selected route, over which he drives all Cars without exception, including the two test hills - one out of High Wycombe towards Amersham and the other Dashwood. On the former, with three passengers and very wet roads, we just managed to climb it on top, the minimum speed being nine miles per hour. Bearing in mind it was a closed body and the general conditions at the time of the trial, I think this can be regarded as satisfactory. With an open body, which we always use for "The Times" test runs, the performance should be appreciably better. On third gear, on the same hill, we were badly checked after getting in to our stride, but getting away again, gradually accelerated to forty miles an hour on the steepest portion. At no time was the speed diminishing during the climb on third gear. On Dashwood, the minimum speed was forty-four miles an hour, the approach to the hill being made at fifty-seven m.p.h. These latter figures are interesting to compare with the previous ascent of the hill with sixteen-tooth axle on dry roads, the hill being approached at sixty-four and the speed dropping to forty-three. Sitting in the front seat as a passenger, on the return journey, my impressions were that I was continued........ | ||