Secret memo discussing the strategy for introducing the 'India' chassis and managing the transition from the current 20HP model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 57\1\ Scan102 | |
| Date | 5th March 1925 | |
| SECRET. Wor {Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} 1/M5/3/25. THE 20HP POSITION. Re CJ's memo CJ1/E3/3/25, assuming that Sales will not have sold and delivered complete cars of the current type until some time in June, the following are my comments, for your consideration, towards a solution of the difficult position we find ourselves in. Firstly, from the memo it is important to get rid of current type of cars before any announcement, or at least to drive the announcement as late as possible: Secondly, to decide whether it is wise to deliver 'India(Production 20 HP. with 4-speed box and Front Wheel Brakes)' chassis, or wait for chassis with F.W.B: Thirdly, to avoid driving orders into the hands of our competitors. In studying these three problems, and taking into consideration that R. {Sir Henry Royce} suggests no chassis should be delivered until F.W.B. have been proved, and passed for manufacture; Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} ' statement that there will be possible difficulties with F.W.B. and he advises a similar policy to R; BY's remarks that there will be difficulties but they will be surmounted; and your remarks that you are of the opinion that the 'India(Production 20 HP. with 4-speed box and Front Wheel Brakes)' chassis without F.W.B. should be issued to the public, with the announcement to fit F.W.B. later; I offer a suggestion for your consideration:- (a) It is recorded that experimentally we are hoping to have an 'India(Production 20 HP. with 4-speed box and Front Wheel Brakes)' chassis about the end of March; (b) That experimentally we shall have an 'India(Production 20 HP. with 4-speed box and Front Wheel Brakes)' chassis fitted with F.W.B. running on the road about the middle of April. In this connection it should be remembered that we shall not deliver all the current type chassis to Sales until about the 18th. or a little later, in April. Obviously, if we are going to have, and I believe we can, an 'India(Production 20 HP. with 4-speed box and Front Wheel Brakes)' chassis fitted with F.W.B. by the middle of April, we shall know a good deal by that time about the difficulties of F.W.B. and 'India(Production 20 HP. with 4-speed box and Front Wheel Brakes)' chassis. We can, immediately the 'India(Production 20 HP. with 4-speed box and Front Wheel Brakes)' chassis is ready experimentally, start the 10,000 miles test, then as soon | ||
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).