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).
Complaint case regarding the performance and acceleration of Commander Holbrook's car, chassis GYZ-18.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 107\3\ scan0013 | |
| Date | 26th June 1934 | |
| <5770 Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}.. from H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} H1/H27.6.34. dict.26.6.34. Complaint case. Commander Holbrook, V.C., R.N., Chassis No. GYZ-18. Commander Holbrook called to see me this morning and I had an amiable interview with him and DH.{D. Henderson - Showroom} I understood the real object of his visit was again to express a certain amount of dissatisfaction with the performance of the above car, This is not a new matter; in fact, the car has been tried with Commander Holbrook by Bt.{Capt. J. S. Burt - Engineer} in December last, and has also received attention in March, when Mr. Fairey expressed the view that its performance was not impressive. We felt in the latter case that perhaps Mr. Fairey, getting off a specially hotted-up Phantom II, was not perhaps the best person to express a view. However, the car went to Cricklewood, and they did what they could. I understand from Commander Holbrook that it is not the maximum speed so much that he finds disappointing as acceleration. He agrees that provided you have room you can get up to 69 m.p.h. ot 70 m.p.h. but not very readily in this country. On the other hand, an old Humber of the 'snipe' variety he has, with a very large body, leaves GYZ-18 standing in the matter of acceleration. It should be noted, by the bye, that the weight of this Lancefield saloon is above the average, i.e. about 38 cwt. fully equipped. It was finally agreed between us that I would enquire from W. whether they could 'hot' this car up in any way to improve its acceleration. I am not sure whether a lower geared axle would not suit Commander Holbrook's use of the car. Possibly some raising of the compression, the consequences of which, in the way of vibration, if any, he would not object to in the least. If you agree, I propose to ask W. what they suggest as Commander Holbrook would be quite willing to allow them to have the car, provided he could get the better performance. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} | ||