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).
Performance review of a Buick and a 20 HP Sunbeam, including notes on rubber engine mounting.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 124\3\ scan0135 | |
| Date | 19th March 1928 guessed | |
| contd :- -2- RUBBER ENGINE MOUNTING. Part of the engine smoothness may be attributed to the rubber engine mounting, a sketch of which we attach. This is of the simplest form, the rear engine feet being held in a clamp lined with rubber. The front is a normal single point mounting. ROAD PERFORMANCE. As might be expected from the displacement/ton/ mile, the acceleration of the Buick is very definitely superior to that of the 20 HP. with a similar body, in fact it is superior to any 20 HP. we have by quite a large margin. It is quite a nice car to drive up to 50 m.p.h. Beyond this speed one becomes apprehensive owing to the mediocre performance of the brakes and the characteristics of the suspension and steering. The speedometer is most ingenious being correct at 20 m.p.h. - 1% fast at 30 m.p.h. - 7% fast at 55 m.p.h. The actual maximum speed of the car is about 58 m.p.h. 20 HP. SUNBEAM. We had the opportunity of trying one of the latest models of this car fitted with a fabric saloon the other day. The performance of this car was very similar to that of the Buick but its maximum speed was appreciably slightly over 60 m.p.h. It is a very great improvement on their previous model of this rating, the engine is just spoilt by two slight crankshaft periods. The steering suffers from the fact that the car seems to have an incipient high speed wobble. The brakes require far too much pressure. The suspension of the car is admirable. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}: | ||