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 report and negative review of a competitor's Lanchester car, comparing it unfavourably to their own vehicle.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 47\1\ Scan031 | |
| Date | 18th May 1921 | |
| PAGE 3. At my request, Mr. Hordern started up his Lanchester car and took me for a run on it. I was considerably disappointed in the car, which I anticipated would be altogether more attractive. The engine made a desperate noise when cold, and when hot at speeds up to 45 miles an hour, there was an amount of engine fuss and rumbles which we should not at all approve of in our car. Mr. Hordern volunteered when we were on this car, not before, that the steering was terribly heavy and stiff, and that the brakes were not at all satisfactory. In the presence of his chauffeur, my mechanic, his tutor and three of his sons, he stated whilst praising up the Lanchester, that it could run 85 miles an hour. I expressed the greatest interest and asked him how he knew. His reply was that he had actually run it at 60 miles an hour and that he could tell from the feel that it would run up to 85. Comment is needless ! I merely informed Mr. Hordern that although not a betting man, I would willingly stake £10. that his car would never at any time under any conditions do 80 miles an hour. We would not take this wager on. The Lanchester car ran more slowly than our ordinary car on top gear on magneto. Never at any time did I get the impression of silkiness of running. The acceleration (I am not aware what the gear ratio and axle is) was not remarkable, certainly not better than our ordinary closed car. The gear noises were all rumbling and irritating. Obviously, the ease of gear changing could not be improved upon, resulting from the use of the Epicyclic arrangement. The car did not run at more than 50 miles an hour, so that I am not able to tell how much higher speed it might have attained with the conditions suitable. I did not get the impression that it had much more power than our car. I cared for this car even less than I liked the Napier which I tried recently in London. PN.{Mr Northey} RECEIVED 18 MAY. 21 | ||