Rolls-Royce V8 Legalimit

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V8 Legalimit
(1905-1906)

Years in production : 1905 - 1906

No. made : 3

Engine : 8 cylinder 90 degree V configuration

Bore & stroke : 3 1/4" x 3 1/4"

c.c. : 3,535

Transmission : Cone type lutch, 3 speeds and reverse

Chassis : Pressed steel, semi-elliptic springs front

Dimensions : Wheelbase 106 "

Performance At low governor setting 1st gear 8 mph (12.9km/h), 2nd gear 13.5 mph (22.5 km/h), 3rd gear 21.5 mph (34.6 km/h); at high governor setting a top speed of 26 mph (41.8 km/h) could be achieved thus exceeding the legal speed limit.

The Rolls-Royce Legalimit with its 8 cylinder engine, the cylinders being in a vee, was to be as silent as an electrically powered town car.The crucial feature was a gearbox layout restricting the top speed to the legal limit of 20 mph. This task added to the work of the already overworked Royce who was suffering from declining health due to having been burdened with far too much work over the recent years.

Because ever-higher power and speed was already being expected from motor cars, expectations for the project were not promising. Although some really brilliant technical solutions graced the V8 engine, only three Rolls-Royce Legalimits were produced and the model is the only one amongst all the Rolls-Royce types of which none has survived.

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