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).
Speed and performance tests for chassis GFT-43 at Brooklands.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 47\3\ Scan269 | |
| Date | 11th November 1931 | |
| RM{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} x 4117. EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}2/H11.11.31. re.GFT-43. Cholmondeley. With reference to the specification requiring a speed of 70 miles per hour for the above, although we were not able to obtain this as a chassis at the Works with our test kit,(either closed or open) fitted, we were certainly able to obtain experimental required horse power at the road wheels, as specified by Experimental Dept. Yesterday we were able to test the chassis at Brooklands, fitted with its own body (Corsica Coachbuilders Co.) and were able on three tests taken over a mile stretch to obtain over 70 m.p.h. The track was wet and was not completely open and we could not run full laps. We also had to run round in the opposite direction to that usually taken and therefore did not have the advantage of running off the bank. The wind was moderate, part of the time a cross wind and part of time at the rear. The actual tests for the three runs were:- 71.3 m.p.h. 72 m.p.h. 70.87 m.p.h. On the mile run the speedometer was reading about 70 m.p.h. and the maximum speed by the speedometer reading was 77 m.p.h. At each speed the rev. counter was reading approx. 3570 R.P.M. The car was fitted with high rated springs, standard R-R shock absorbers and adjustable Hartfords, and for ordinary road running certainly rode harshly, but on the track was particularly good, steering and holding the road qualities also very good. The body is particularly good for stream-lining but inclined to creak and rattle and accentuates noises rather than damps them. The body is fitted with special flaps under the front wings, which can be dropped down by the driver, CONTINUED:- | ||