Proposal to name future car models, such as Silver Phantom and Comet, rather than referring to them by wheelbase and engine size.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 153\3\ scan0230 | |
| Date | 21th December 1943 | |
| 1298 Amended Copy. Chassis To: Hly. from Rm. {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Rm. {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} 9/h. 21.12.43. c. to H.S. c. to Pdn. c. to W.R. Owing to the possibility of various alternative engine sizes being made for the range of chassis we have at present under consider-ation, I am proposing to refer to each model in future by a name rather than a wheelbase and engine size. This also prevents too much publicity being given to the actual engine dimensions of a car we propose to market after the war. The names I propose to use, unless anyone takes particular exception to them, are as follows : 11' 1" wheelbase 8-cyl. Rolls-Royce "SILVER PHANTOM". 11' 1" wheelbase 6-cyl. Rolls-Royce "SILVER WRAITH". 9' 2" wheelbase 4-cyl. Rolls-Royce. "SILVER RIPPLE(Small prototype with 3.5 litre 6-cylinder engine)". * 10' 10" wheelbase 8-cyl. Bentley. "COMET" 10' 4" wheelbase 6-cyl. Bentley. "CRESTA". 10' 4" wheelbase with the Paulin Body "CORNICHE(Bentley streamline(Experimental Streamline Bentley B.23.A.E)d precursor to R Type Continental, never produced)". In the case of the Rolls-Royce range, the word "Silver" distinguishes them from the pre-war models Rm. {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Amendment. 18.2.44. * COMET. Since writing the above, the 10' 10" wheelbase has become 11' 1" by agreement. Rm. {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||
From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).