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).
Test driver's impressions and feedback on the car 36-EX following a 300-mile run.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 123\4\ scan0244 | |
| Date | 15th April 1936 | |
| To Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Wym.{G. Harold Whyman - Experimental Manager} X1042 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}1/KW.15.4.36. 36-EX. The following are my impressions of this car during a 300 mile run - (1) The petrol consumption should be checked: the tank was full on starting and no petrol has been added. The car has been driven at moderate speeds most of the time. (2) The steering remains the worst feature of the car; it spoils an otherwise pleasant vehicle. (3) Clutch - this has remained good throughout but the pedal pressure is unpleasantly high. (4) Period at 70 m.p.h. - this is not noticeable except after the car has been driven hard for a considerable time. (5) Gearbox - the top gear came out on the over-run at high speeds on several occasions. (6) Instruments. The speedometer drive is noisy. The speedometer illumination is inadequate, one cannot read the trip from the driving seat. The ignition warning light is not visible in the daylight at all, and is not sufficiently prominent at night time. (7) The relief valve continues to be noisy for two or three minutes after starting up. (8) The water temperature runs at 85° in the ordinary way. This seems very satisfactory from the point of view of carburation, but we should like to ensure that it does not cause the car to overheat when driven hard at high speeds. (9) Tyre Noise. We want to be very certain as to the difference between SpectreCodename for Phantom III I and this car from the point of view of tyre noise. If the cars are entirely different it looks as if we ought either to fit metal floorboards to SpectreCodename for Phantom III I which will enable us to carry on with our other tests on 36-EX, or alternatively, if this is impossible, fit wooden boards to 36-EX. | ||