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 feedback letter from Mr. G.R.N. Minchin on the 12-cylinder Phantom III.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 96\3\ scan0110 | |
| Date | 2nd September 1936 | |
| Copy of letter from Mr. G.R.N. Minchin --------- 50, Grosvenor Gardens, S.W. 1. 2nd September, 1936. A.F. Sidgreaves, Esq., Messrs. Rolls-Royce Ltd., 14-15, Conduit Street, W.1. My dear Sidgreaves, Thank you so much for the loan of the 12 cylinder Phantom III. I drove this and so did other enthusiasts. Of course, anyone denying that this is the most wonderful and best car ever produced, is merely a fool. It is a very great advance on even anything that Rolls-Royce Ltd. have made and I congratulate all concerned very heartily. One literally does not know that there is an engine and for those people who do not want to change gear, there is no necessity ever to do so, the acceleration being still there just the same. Independent front springing is, of course, not new but, as usual, it takes Rolls-Royce Ltd. to make such a departure properly and safely and there is no doubt it is a very great advance on any of the other systems. The road across Walton Heath is very wavy and bumpy and an ordinary car takes a lot of holding at 55/60 m.p.h. whereas the Phantom III went over it at 75/80 without any motion at all from the front, the suspension absorbing all these very serious inequalities in the road surface. The riding in the back seat must be experienced to be believed. Yours sincerely, (Sgd.) G.R.N. Minchin. P.S. I have not commented on the steering because Cox told me that it could be ignored as it was not the latest. We were all of the opinion that the way it reflects the small road shocks and sets up a bumping and grating in the control box, is reminiscent of the worst periods of the Phantom I. Actually, we did not like the three-spoke wheel because one cannot rest one's hands on the spokes as one is accustomed to do and the controls on the top of the column are very Americany compared with the beautiful piece of work which was the old Rolls-Royce control and which we all like so much. Paddon's comments on the car you will find on the enclosed enveloppe which was stuck | ||