Renault versus Rolls-Royce

Sir,

Your comments on page 36 of the January 1978 Motor Sport regarding the quality of the chassis of Edwardian Renaults rivalling the 40/50 Rolls-Royce of the same period might be changed somewhat if you studied the enclosed pictures. They are of identical components, both doing exactly the same job of being the main braking shoes of cars made within a few months of each other a 1920 Renault 40CV and a two Rolls-Royce 40/50. The crudity of the design and execution is apparent, whilst the excess of weight of the Renault component versus the Rolls-Royce component can only be guessed at, from these photographs. These are blow-holes in the brake shoe castings of the Renaults showing they did not have the casting or metallurgical finesse of Rolls-Royce. Sufficient to say that I have dismantled both chassis down to their respective nuts and bolts and have been dismayed at the crude blacksmith approach of practically all the Renault components that are not visible to the naked eye. The photographs illustrate but one easily accessible example, that prove to me conclusively that the large Renaults had no possibility at all of being comparable to the Rolls-Royce product in respect of design, execution and materials. Perhaps you could ask those people in England who have had the opportunity of directly comparing the two makes to confirm this to you.

D.F. DU TOIT

(The photographs are not suitable for reproduction but dealers will take Mr. du Toit’s meaning and may care to comment. Ed).