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).
Technical assessment and review of a 2.5 Litre Fiat Saloon.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 21\7\ Scan039 | |
| Date | 13th November 1931 | |
| Re/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}1/MJ.13.11.31. 2.5 LITRE FIAT SALOON. TAX £20. The main particulars of this car are :- 6 cyl. Mono-Block casting. Seven bearing crankshaft. 19.3 H.P. 72 x 103 mm. 251 cc. Wheel Base 9 ft. 9 ins. Track 4 ft. 9 ins. Axle Ratio 4.7-1. Tyres 28 x 5.5. Complete Weight (Autocar) 27 cwt. 3 qrs. Side valve engine Camshaft silent inverted tooth chain drive. Lockheed brakes with double master cylinder. Air cleaner. Oil purifier. A.C. petrol pump. Delco ignition. Hodgkiss Drive Silent Third non-easy change. Solex carburetter. This is a very refined little car. It is the nearest approach to the "Rolls-Royce" type that we have tried in the 18 HP. class. Without having in any way an outstanding performance it does its work with commendable unobtrusiveness. The one feature standing out for unfavourable comment is the suspension, the car pitched badly and did not hold the road which spoilt the directional stability of the steering. It should not be difficult to rectify this with the correct shock absorbers and spring ratings. SILENCE. Idling. - Valve gear and drive - Very good. Carburetter - Slight suction noise. Gearbox side shaft - Very fair. Exhaust - Very fair. Running.- Engine generally - Very good. Exhaust - Good. No marked periods. Axle. - " " Gearbox - Silent third very fair. Carb. - Good. Little or no indication pipe roar. Body. - No outstanding booms. SMOOTHNESS. - Generally speaking the power unit is very sweet running, smooth and free from any crankshaft vibrations. A period under full power which may have been flywheel or transmission was noticeable at about 50 M.P.H. but was not marked. Scarcely perceptible over run vibrations at various speeds. PERFORMANCE. - We should estimate this to be about a geniune 60 M.P.H. car. It pulls well at low speeds on | ||