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).
The 15,000-mile road test of the production Phantom III.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 91\1\ scan0269 | |
| Date | 18th May 1936 | |
| To SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} c. to WOP. c. to R.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} c. to Hx. c. to TF.{T. Fisher} c. to SP.{Mr Spinney} 15,000 miles Test on Production Phantom III. 2,500 miles were covered on this car in under a week's motoring on French and Spanish roads. It is almost a year since we covered on the same car with the earlier type of chassis a similar type of run. The general impression left is that in the 12 months we have made an immense amount of progress. The Phantom III is now so far ahead of our other productions with regard to suspension and road holding that a large number of complaints on the springing of the 20/25 HP. and Bentley seem to be inevitable as soon as the big car gets into the hands of customers. It is no exaggeration to say that compared with the Ph.III, the 20/25 and Bentley are terrible on Continental roads. They compare most unfavourably, even with cars which have not independent wheel springing, such as the Chrysler, and even small cars such as the latest Standard which we had the opportunity of trying in Spain. Throughout the tour the performance of the Ph.III was magnificent. The general comfort of the car and unobtrusiveness of the power unit is emphasized by the fact that on three days about 450 miles were covered under touring conditions without any feeling of fatigue being experienced at the end of the run. The average speeds which could be maintained were astonishing; on certain Spanish roads we covered more than 70 miles in the hour. | ||