Rolls-Royce 15 hp

The Rolls -Royce 15 hp was one of the four car models that were built according to the contract between Charles Rolls and Henry Royce 23 December 1904. Although the car was Rolls- Royce, but was by the company. Henry Royce Royce Ltd. in the district of Trafford Park in Manchester, built and only when auto trading house of Charles Rolls, the CS Rolls & Co., for the price of £ 500 sold. The 15 hp, together with its sister models 10 hp and 20 hp, and the engine of the model 30 hp, issued in December 1904 at the Paris Motor Show, but because of the new three-cylinder engine was not yet ready, the chassis was not complete.

Three -cylinder engines were very popular in the early years of motorization and so was a also part of the emerging business program. The construction promised a smoother running than the number two cylinder, but it was much easier to produce than a six-cylinder with its long crankshaft. Royce but developed his engine program by proceeding out of the two-cylinder block and two for a four-cylinder and three of them sat together for a six cylinder. The three-cylinder did not fit into this series since its cylinders were cast separately. This is probably the reason arose from the later only six-cylinder engines. The three-cylinder engine, the bore having a diameter of 101.6 mm and the stroke was 127 mm, had a displacement of 3089 cm ³, water cooling and was unchecked ( intake valves in the head hanging, side exhaust valves in the cylinder standing). A high voltage ignition with pre-charged batteries, a buzzer and an ignition coil caused the spark. Since the illumination worked with petroleum, there were no other electrical load. The engine produced 15 bhp (11 kW) at 1000 min -1. The engine speed is kept stable by means of a mechanical speed regulator, which could be affected to the accelerator pedal. The car had a three speed gearbox, which was connected via a short shaft and a leather cone clutch with the engine.

The top speed was 63 km / h The foot brake acted on the gear and the parking brake on drum brakes on the rear wheels. Front and rear axles is suspended from the longitudinal plate springs. Some cars had also installed a rear transverse leaf spring for support. The cars were equipped with wooden spoke wheels.

Rolls -Royce delivered only the chassis and the drive, but not the structures. The customer received the car without body and had to be proactive in asking a wheelwright, where they were advised Barker.

Of the total produced only in 1905, six copies only one is received with registration number SD661 today.