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 performance and modifications of left-hand drive cars, including engine compression ratios and delivery schedules.
| Identifier | Morton\M19\ img121 | |
| Date | 23th February 1931 | |
| -3- H.S.2/H.J. 23.2.31. Contd. We have now left-hand cars completed and off tests ready for despatch. It was agreed that as regards item (1) Booms and Vibrations, we have no known cure to apply to these cars and also at the moment we have no cure which is sufficiently promising that would justify holding up despatch of these cars. (2) Shock Absorbers. We have no proved scheme which could be applied to these shock absorbers. (3) Power. The Expl. Dept. took to St.{Capt. P. R. Strong} Albans a left-hand car in which the compression ratio had been increased from 4.6 to 4.9. The increase in performance of this car was demonstrated to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} PN.{Mr Northey} and H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} The performance is noticeably better than 25-EX, which I took to U.S.A. and there is no doubt that it is equal at the low speeds and very much better at the high speeds, than the U.S.A. Phantom I car. This high compression ratio had been fitted to 24-EX, car which has the full Diamond engine mounting. It was agreed that we should try it on a standard car and then if the results justify it Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} would write to R.R.A.I. and ask them if they would prefer the high compression head. There is of course more detonation with this head but in U.S.A. customers are used to using dope fuels and there should be no difficulty in this respect. We have promised R.R.A.I. delivery from Derby of left-hand Phantom ll cars by the end of February. It was therefore agreed there was no alternative but to despatch them but as soon as we had any known improvements we would get them on to these cars at the earliest possible time. HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||