23-01-2019, 08:29 PM
Old road tests were very non critical especially of favoured Brit makes. The Motor Nov 1931 on the first lwb Seven (with coupled brakes) “The brakes are adequate when the car is driven carefully and have the merit of being very safe; they are almost impossible to lock on even on slippery surfaces. To get reasonably short pulling up distances we found it necessary to apply the foot and handbrake simultaneously.”
Nevertheless took 66 feet from 30 mph, 46%, less than current legal minimum (although, until quite recently, not uncommon for laden trucks and buses.)
(I trust the term “we” does not mean the passenger assisted!) it is surprising what force the flimsy looking handbrake tolerates. When it is claimed that Sevens were made of the best materials it is true!
On a few occasions when the traffic stream stopped suddenly my coupled brake RP locked rear wheels in the wet at terminal velocity. With 200 lb on the pedal the retardation was not evident and it took a few milliseconds to realise why the world was suddenly quiet and peaceful.
(With ideal lining materials better results are apparently achieved today)
Nevertheless took 66 feet from 30 mph, 46%, less than current legal minimum (although, until quite recently, not uncommon for laden trucks and buses.)
(I trust the term “we” does not mean the passenger assisted!) it is surprising what force the flimsy looking handbrake tolerates. When it is claimed that Sevens were made of the best materials it is true!
On a few occasions when the traffic stream stopped suddenly my coupled brake RP locked rear wheels in the wet at terminal velocity. With 200 lb on the pedal the retardation was not evident and it took a few milliseconds to realise why the world was suddenly quiet and peaceful.
(With ideal lining materials better results are apparently achieved today)