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).
Confidential memo about the potential development of an 8-cylinder engine and a request for a cost estimate for an experimental chassis.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 69\4\ scan0097 | |
| Date | 9th September 1926 | |
| X8770 STRICTLY SECRET AND CONFIDENTIAL. To Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} from BJ. To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from BJ. HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} To E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} from BJ. [Strikethrough] To BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} from BJ. 6 and 8 Cylinder Engines. BJ14/E9/9/26 R.{Sir Henry Royce} has suggested that I should send to you a copy of R3/M2/9/26 - enclosed herewith. Will you kindly keep this under lock and key and not divulge the contents to any one as it is of the utmost importance that no hint should be made that we may make an 8-cylinder car in the future. It is unlikely that such a car would be on the market for another 2 or 3 years and, if a rumour arose that we were about to make an 8-cylinder and thereby make all 6-cylinders obsolete, our business would very shortly entirely cease to exist. WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} As this matter will be considered by the next Board Meeting towards the end of this month, would it be possible for you to send me some form of estimate of what/ it costs us to produce a few experimental chassis of entirely new design, taking the EAC as an example. This cost should, of course, include experimental work. I want to try to tell the Board what it is likely to cost us to produce such a chassis before we can start selling them. BJ. Enc. Copy of R3/M2/9/26 | ||