Rolls-Royce 30 hp
Encyclopedia
The Rolls-Royce 30 hp
was one of four cars to be produced as a result of an agreement of 23 December 1904 between Charles Rolls
and Henry Royce
. Badged as a Rolls-Royce, the 30 hp was produced during 1905 and 1906 by Royce's company, Royce Ltd. at its factory in Trafford Park
, Manchester
. It was sold exclusively by Rolls' motor dealership, C.S.Rolls & Co., at a price of GBP890. The engine was exhibited at the Paris Salon in December 1904, along with the 10 hp
, 15 hp
and 20 hp models.
Claude Johnson was keen that a six-cylinder
model was included in the Rolls-Royce line-up as other "quality" makers, especially Napier
, were adding them to their ranges. The 30 hp was discontinued when the company changed to a single model policy and launched the 40/50 (Silver Ghost).
The engine was made of three separately cast two-cylinder units which were common with the two-cylinder
10 hp and four-cylinder
20 hp types sharing their bore of 4 in (102 mm) and stroke of 5 in (127 mm). It is water-cooled and of 6000 cc capacity with overhead inlet and side exhaust valves. The crankshaft was carried in seven main bearings in an attempt to keep vibration to a minimum, a problem on many early six-cylinder engines, as the dynamics of the layout were still not fully understood. Early cars had a high-tension ignition system using pre-charged accumulators, a trembler and a coil ignition system; on later cars this was supplemented by a magneto
which could be used as an alternative. As the lighting supplied uses oil for the side and tail and acetylene
for the headlights, there is no other drain on the accumulators, which need to be recharged between outings. The power output is 30 bhp at 1000 rpm. The engine speed is controlled by a governor that can be over-ridden by the pedal-controlled accelerator. A three-speed gearbox was fitted at first, later changed to four-speed, connected to the engine via a short shaft and a leather cone clutch is used. On the four-speed type, third gear is direct and fourth speed an overdrive
ratio.
The car has a top speed of 55 mph (89 km/h). There is a transmission brake operating on a drum fitted behind the gearbox operated by foot pedal and internal expanding drum brakes on the back axle operated by the handbrake lever. Suspension is by semi-elliptic leaf springs on both front and rear axles with an additional crossways helper spring on the rear. Artillery
type wheels with wooden spokes were fitted.
Two chassis lengths were made, the short was 112 in (2,845 mm) long and the long 118 in (2,997 mm). the track was the same on both lengths at 56 in (1,422 mm). Rolls-Royce did not provide the coachwork. Instead, the cars were sold in chassis form for the customer to arrange their own body supplier. Both closed and open cars were made.
Only one car, chassis number 26355 is known to survive.
Tax horsepower
The tax horsepower or taxable horsepower was an early system by which taxation rates for automobiles were reckoned in some European countries, such as Britain, Belgium, Germany, France, and Italy; some US states like Illinois charged license plate purchase and renewal fees for passenger...
was one of four cars to be produced as a result of an agreement of 23 December 1904 between Charles Rolls
Charles Rolls
Charles Stewart Rolls was a motoring and aviation pioneer. Together with Frederick Henry Royce he co-founded the Rolls-Royce car manufacturing firm. He was the first Briton to be killed in a flying accident, when the tail of his Wright Flyer broke off during a flying display near Bournemouth,...
and Henry Royce
Henry Royce
Sir Frederick Henry Royce, 1st Baronet, OBE was a pioneering car manufacturer, who with Charles Stewart Rolls founded the Rolls-Royce company.-Early life:...
. Badged as a Rolls-Royce, the 30 hp was produced during 1905 and 1906 by Royce's company, Royce Ltd. at its factory in Trafford Park
Trafford Park
Trafford Park is an area of the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England. Located opposite Salford Quays, on the southern side of the Manchester Ship Canal, it is west-southwest of Manchester city centre, and north of Stretford. Until the late 19th century it was the...
, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. It was sold exclusively by Rolls' motor dealership, C.S.Rolls & Co., at a price of GBP890. The engine was exhibited at the Paris Salon in December 1904, along with the 10 hp
Rolls-Royce 10 hp
The Rolls-Royce 10 hp was the first car to be produced as a result of an agreement of 23 December 1904 between Charles Rolls and Henry Royce, and badged as a Rolls-Royce. The 10 hp was produced by Royce's company, Royce Ltd., at its factory in Trafford Park, Manchester, and was sold...
, 15 hp
Rolls-Royce 15 hp
The Rolls-Royce 15 hp was one of four cars to be produced as a result of an agreement of 23 December 1904 between Charles Rolls and Henry Royce. Badged as a Rolls-Royce, the 15 hp was produced by Royce's company, Royce Ltd., at its factory in Trafford Park, Manchester. It was sold exclusively...
and 20 hp models.
Claude Johnson was keen that a six-cylinder
Straight-6
The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...
model was included in the Rolls-Royce line-up as other "quality" makers, especially Napier
Napier & Son
D. Napier & Son Limited was a British engine and pre-Great War automobile manufacturer and one of the most important aircraft engine manufacturers in the early to mid-20th century...
, were adding them to their ranges. The 30 hp was discontinued when the company changed to a single model policy and launched the 40/50 (Silver Ghost).
The engine was made of three separately cast two-cylinder units which were common with the two-cylinder
Straight-two
A straight-two engine, is a two-cylinder piston engine that has its cylinders arranged side by side....
10 hp and four-cylinder
Straight-4
The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
20 hp types sharing their bore of 4 in (102 mm) and stroke of 5 in (127 mm). It is water-cooled and of 6000 cc capacity with overhead inlet and side exhaust valves. The crankshaft was carried in seven main bearings in an attempt to keep vibration to a minimum, a problem on many early six-cylinder engines, as the dynamics of the layout were still not fully understood. Early cars had a high-tension ignition system using pre-charged accumulators, a trembler and a coil ignition system; on later cars this was supplemented by a magneto
Magneto
A magneto is a type of electrical generator.Magneto may also refer to:* Magneto , permanent magnetic alternating current rotary generator* ignition magneto, magnetos on internal combustion engines...
which could be used as an alternative. As the lighting supplied uses oil for the side and tail and acetylene
Carbide lamp
Carbide lamps, properly known as acetylene gas lamps, are simple lamps that produce and burn acetylene which is created by the reaction of calcium carbide with water....
for the headlights, there is no other drain on the accumulators, which need to be recharged between outings. The power output is 30 bhp at 1000 rpm. The engine speed is controlled by a governor that can be over-ridden by the pedal-controlled accelerator. A three-speed gearbox was fitted at first, later changed to four-speed, connected to the engine via a short shaft and a leather cone clutch is used. On the four-speed type, third gear is direct and fourth speed an overdrive
Overdrive (mechanics)
Overdrive is a term used to describe a mechanism that allows an automobile to cruise at sustained speed with reduced engine RPM, leading to better fuel economy, lower noise and lower wear...
ratio.
The car has a top speed of 55 mph (89 km/h). There is a transmission brake operating on a drum fitted behind the gearbox operated by foot pedal and internal expanding drum brakes on the back axle operated by the handbrake lever. Suspension is by semi-elliptic leaf springs on both front and rear axles with an additional crossways helper spring on the rear. Artillery
Artillery wheel
The artillery wheel was developed for use on gun carriages when it was found that the lateral forces involved in horse artillery manoeuvres caused normally-constructed cart wheels to collapse. Rather than having its spokes mortised into a wooden nave , it has them fitted together then bolted into...
type wheels with wooden spokes were fitted.
Two chassis lengths were made, the short was 112 in (2,845 mm) long and the long 118 in (2,997 mm). the track was the same on both lengths at 56 in (1,422 mm). Rolls-Royce did not provide the coachwork. Instead, the cars were sold in chassis form for the customer to arrange their own body supplier. Both closed and open cars were made.
Only one car, chassis number 26355 is known to survive.