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).
Comparing vehicle design philosophies, including weight, transmission loss, weight distribution, and handling characteristics.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 90\2\ scan0091 | |
| Date | 14th June 1938 | |
| -3- 14.6.38. One other feature is not generally appreciated, i.e., a high motor-car with plenty of ground clearance can be built on a shorter wheelbase than a low motor-car. Shorter wheelbases save weight. All these items make up a difference of 400 lbs between our 3½-litre Bentley and the 3½-litre Oldsmobile. 150 lbs we get back on our body. To get this weight back we, of course, sacrifice seating room, head room and luggage accommodation. (2) Loss through Transmission in the modern car. We have not been able to establish that there is any appreciable difference between the transmission loss which is experienced on English cars and that which takes place on American or other Continental products. The modern gearbox and axle seems to be very efficient. The big loss takes place in the tyres. Undoubtedly, the American large section tyre can absorb quite a large quantity of horse-power if it is not correctly inflated. (3) Weight Distribution. When we were last in America we definitely heard a number of people express the opinion that there was a tendency to get too much weight on the front wheels of American cars. The disadvantage of this state of affairs is that in the case of very light cars with very large engines, such as the Century Model Buick, wheel spin is likely to be experienced in top gear under London traffic, or, similar conditions. We have actually had similar comments made about the 4¼-litre Bentley, one customer being kind enough to say that the car lacked acceleration but that the back wheels slid sideways when he put his foot down in traffic on top gear. (4) Over-steer and under-steer. We should like to be the first people to admit that the American deserve the credit for putting road-holding on a scientific basis. Briefly, we say that if the average British Manufacturer to-day had to make a car with a soft suspension and a high centre gravity, similar to the average American car, he would not know how to make it go round corners satis-factorily. | ||