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).
Customer complaint letter regarding steering issues, road shock, and suitability for a female driver.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 47\2\ Scan047 | |
| Date | 31th October 1927 | |
| Telegrams: 75 Willaston, Birkenhead. Telephone Willaston 75. Station: Hadlow Road, L.M.S. From GEOFFREY SUMMERS, Hadlow Wood, WILLASTON, Near Birkenhead. To Messrs. Rolls Royce Ltd. Derby. 261/GS/DM{D. Munro} Oct 31ST 1927 Chassis 117 MC. Dear Sirs, I am still far from satisfied with the steering on my car. I spent 2 days at the Olympia Motor Show recently & tried about ten different cars including the Bentley 6 cylinder, the d inter 12 cyl. & the Stutz 8 cyl.: I did not feel inclined to change my Rolls for any of them, as none gave the superlative smoothness at all speeds & quietness on the gears that I get from the Rolls. I did however prefer the steering on all of them. Of all the ten cars I tried not one had the unpleasant road shock reaction of yours & all of them were equally light, & nearly all self-centred as easily as yours. It does seem true that it is a pity that a perfect car in all other respects should be marred by what I, & many of my friends, consider is a serious defect. I want sometime in the near future to buy a 20 h.p. Saloon but a relative who has one says the steering shocks are even worse than on the 40/50. I want my saloon to be suitable for a lady to drive & at present I feel that no Rolls with its present steering is really safe in a lady's hands at speed on rough roads. Can you do anything for me? Yrs faithfully, Geoffrey Summers | ||