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).
Road test report detailing impressions of a Bentley vehicle's performance.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 83\1\ scan0143 | |
| Date | 1st August 1936 | |
| X200a To Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Levallois - Perret, August 1st, 1936. 6-B-IV. I collected the Bentley yesterday and brought it up to Paris today. My impressions are: (1) Steering unstable at speed, heavy low speed, column whip. (2) Mixture control is fighting the engine all the time, rattle and goes over approx. 4 notches strong. (3) Engine very smooth forward and retard, slight detonations on pick-up. (4) Tappets very noisy at start, shall check-up. (5) Springing very poor, cannot find a suitable position for damper control to make it right. It either shakes every bone in the body or jams every nerve min. damping, alright at 20 M.P.H. (6) Brakes. Not sufficient for high speed work, good for medium braking, slight squeak at start. (7) Gearbox. Very good gears, especially third. (8) Clutch. Good, smooth take up on severe gradient. (9) Oil pressure steady approx. average 30 lbs. (10) Dynamo not charging under 30 M.P.H. red lamp, too bright, objectionable. (11) No sign of misfires. Maximum speed on run up 90 (not full out). | ||