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).
Confidential memo discussing the merits and drawbacks of six and eight-cylinder engines, referencing Packard and Daimler.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\P\2October1926-December1926\ Scan090 | |
| Date | 3rd December 1926 | |
| TO: BJ. LORD WARGRAVE (Struck out) MR. CLAREMONT (Struck out) LHS.{Lord Herbert Scott} (Struck out) Mr. FULLER. ) RR. OF Mr. OLLEY. ) AMERICA Mr. NADIN. ) INC. MR. BAGNALL (Struck out) WORKS (Struck out) HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} (Struck out) FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} ORIGINAL (Stamp) CONFIDENTIAL. Handwritten: V8770 / V3993 / X435 re. SIX & EIGHT CYL. ENGINES. We were anxious that no luxury car engine should beat our 6 cyl. Phantom as regards the fundamental arrangements. We have studied from time to time all possible combinations of cylinders, having long ago designed a 12 cyl. Vee engine for chassis work, which would have had many merits, including the use of the single camshaft and cams for both sets of valves. We concluded however that no arrangement was so practical as the plain straight 6 cyl. engine, although it has certain imperfections, some of which have been known to us from the earliest days. We still think it is, on the whole, the most satisfactory arrangement the buyer can have. Therefore we do not see that we need seriously fear the competition of the Daimler 12., or the Panhard or Packard, and other 8 cyl. cars, which are naturally more complicated and costly to produce of the same quality. Incidentally both of these engines appear to produce a 'fussiness', an objectionable vibration within the car, they are extravagant in petrol or lubricating oil, or both, they are difficult in accessibility, or have other disadvantages, such as generating more heat to the passengers, and heating more water. Also they are more heavy and difficult to repair. I thank Mr. Olley for his excellent criticisms of the eight in line Packard. We had been hunting for merits and defects of more subtle character and missed the primary force being so high. This evidently is the cause of the vibration I experienced at all/speeds, all over the car. high Our own tests of one of these cars (Packard) gave us the impression that as a car there was much to be desired, in other parts as well as the engine, though we believe it is one of the best of the straight eights. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||